Laurie Goddard’s fourth goal of the season helped the Hofstra University men’s soccer team outlast Princeton University 1-0 on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The Pride won back-to-back matches for the first time in 2025, improving to 3-2. The Tigers were handed their first loss of the season, falling to 1-1.
Goddard had not scored from the penalty spot through his first three seasons but has now scored from it three times in the last four games. Princeton’s Benjamin Manfroy was called for the foul, sending the Pride’s captain in front of the Tigers’ goalkeeper Andrew Samuels.
Princeton’s keeper, guessing correctly, dived to his left but Goddard’s shot was too strong as it raced past Samuels to give Hofstra the eventual game-winner.
Goddard’s four goals, one assist and nine points are team-highs for the season as the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Player of the Year continues to put the Pride on his back.
Hofstra goalkeeper Gino Cervoni, one game after earning his first collegiate start and win, picked up his first career clean sheet. He had zero saves as the Pride’s defense locked down the Tigers by holding them to just seven shots, with none on goal.
It was a defensive stalemate for nearly the entire 90 minutes, but the Pride were able to hold off the Tigers’ final attack and secure an impressive win over last season’s Ivy League Champions.
Both teams opened the contest with a shot inside the first three minutes, showing some signs of offense, but neither team recorded another shot until Samuel Francou sent an attempt high above the crossbar in the 38th minute. Manfroy also missed high with the fourth and final shot of the first half with nine seconds left.
The Pride had better luck creating chances, earning five corners compared to just one for the Tigers.
The defensive intensity led to a physical bout, with 12 fouls combined in the first 45 minutes. The physicality only increased in the second half with 21 fouls across both sides.
Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch was the first player booked after a hard foul in the 47th minute. Gabriel Pacheco was assessed a yellow card nine minutes later. The floodgates opened a few minutes later when Jon Jelercic picked up the third yellow card in 14 minutes and Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall shared his opinions on the bookings with the official, promptly leading to his fourth yellow card of the season.
The Tigers continued to push in search of an equalizer, getting off five shots after conceding the lead, but Hofstra’s defense was up for the challenge. The Pride’s communication on the pitch, defensive rotations and reading of passing lanes gave the Tigers fits all night.
The Pride looked to win a third straight match as they return home for The Battle of Long Island against CAA rival Stony Brook University on Saturday, Sept. 13. Kickoff from Captains Field was 7 p.m.
