The Hofstra Pride field hockey team fell to the Rider University Broncs by a score of 4-1 on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium.
The Pride got off to a slow start in the contest, finishing the first quarter scoreless. The defense played strong deterring the Broncs from the defensive zone, but their play did not translate into any scoring opportunities.
Goalie Merlijn van der Vegt was active to start the second quarter, making two early saves to start the period. Rider controlled possession of the ball early in the quarter as the offense for the opposing team gained momentum.
With 8:41 left in the half the Pride capitalized on their first penalty corner of the game as Djuna Slort found the back of the net off an assist by Frankie O’Brien. Slort has been a key part of the Pride’s offense, scoring a goal in each of the last two games for Hofstra.
Van der Vegt kept up the pace following the teams goal, making a key save off a penalty corner with 5:20 remaining in the half.
To close out the half the Pride led the Broncs by a score of 1-0, in spite of being out shot four to three.
“During our first half I thought we played a good half of hockey, in the second quarter especially,” Hofstra head coach Courtney Veinotte said.
The Rider Broncs answered back less than two minutes into the second half, forward Carly Brosious scored off an assist by midfielder Julia Divorra.
Rider controlled the pace early in the third quarter with Divorra traversing the field frequently to maintain possession for the Broncs.
Midfielder Kaitlyn Fleming scored off an assist by Brossius, and the Rider Broncs took their first lead of the game with 7:46 remaining in the third quarter.
The Pride defense began to collapse at this point as they allowed their third straight goal to Rider in the third quarter. Tess van Ommeren found the back of the net to cushion the Broncs lead.
“We couldn’t maintain our same level of play in the third quarter, we gave up too many goals,” Veinotte said.
Heading into the fourth quarter the Rider Broncs commanded a 3-1 lead off of explosive play by the offense.
The Broncs picked up where they left off, getting an additional goal by Julia Divorra late in the fourth quarter.
The Pride could not seem to get anything going in the second half being outplayed in every statistical category in the game.
Hofstra falls to 6-9 on the season and remains at 0-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Next the team will host conference rival the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens at 3 p.m. at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
