The Hofstra University field hockey team was shut out for a second straight match after losing 4-0 to Wagner College on Sunday, Sept. 22. The Pride fell to 2-5 for the season and 8-4 all-time against Wagner, while the Seahawks improved to 4-3.
The Pride looked to get out on the attack early, making the first three shot attempts of the game. Pilar Peñaloza got a chance just a minute into the action, but Seahawks’ keeper Saar van Dalen was there for the save.
Hofstra’s defense held Wagner without a shot throughout the first 11 minutes of the first quarter, but a flurry of attacks flipped the momentum toward the Seahawks. Wagner got four shots off in the final four minutes but saves from Hofstra keeper Pieke Roos and midfielder Tara McNally kept a scoreless tie going into the second quarter.
Both sides struggled to create chances in the second quarter, with just one shot between them after 10 minutes. Wagner finally broke through with a goal from Evie de Baar, her first of the season. The Pride tried to equalize with a pair of penalty corners in the final two minutes, but McNally’s shot was blocked to keep the 1-0 score going into halftime.
Roos was quickly tested out of the half, making back-to-back saves, but Wagner’s third attempt sneaked past the Pride keeper. The goal came from Charlotte Müller, her third of the season, as Hofstra faced a 2-0 deficit. Baar scored again towards the end of the frame, making the score 3-0 and closing out a quarter where Hofstra was outshot 5-0.
Müller grabbed her second goal of the day off an assist from teammate Emma Lofstedt just two minutes into the fourth quarter to close out the scoring. Wagner outshot Hofstra 11-3 in the second half, with all three shots coming in rapid succession midway through the fourth quarter. However, two blocks and a save from van Dalen shut down the Hofstra attack as the Pride went quiet the rest of the way.
McNally finished with a team-high three shots to accompany the defensive save. The Pride were outshot 19-8 in the game, with a 15-3 margin in shots on goal. McNally and Peñaloza each had a shot on goal, with Isabella Tassara picking up the other one off the bench. Roos finished the day with a game-high of nine saves.
Wagner will look to build off their second straight win when they host Long Island University in their next match. The Pride turns their attention back to Coastal Athletic Association play, traveling to take on The University of Delaware on Friday, Sept. 27, with the action starting at 4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Joe Orovitz
