The Hofstra Pride field hockey team picked up their second win of the season on Sunday, March 7 when they shut out Sacred Heart University for a 1-0 victory at Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium. The win was the team’s first in Hempstead this season.

The lone goal of the match came from sophomore Mercedes Currie. With just under three minutes to play in the first half, Esmee Verdoes drove across midfield with a slew of Pioneers ahead of her. She put a pass through the defense to Jasmijn Verdoes in front of the goal, and Verdoes sent the ball to a charging Currie on the left side of the goal. Pioneers goalkeeper Hailey Power was unable to get on top of the ball, leaving Currie to strike for the Pride.

Currie’s goal was the Pride’s first of the season not to be scored by Jasmijn Verdoes, and also the first assisted goal of the season. Jasmijn Verdoes has put up five points for Hofstra through five matches, while Currie sits at second on the team with two. 

“Mercedes Currie pushed up into a great spot on the far side of the net, and Jasmijn [Verdoes] with a circle entry was able to connect with her,” said Hofstra head coach Courtney Veinotte. “So, [we’re] happy to get [Currie] scoring in the game today, and happy to get Jasmijn [Verdoes] on the assist … They’ve been connecting well in practice, so it was good to see it kind of pull over and translate into the game.”

The Pride’s defense shined in the win, shutting out the Pioneers and putting together two quarters in which Sacred Heart didn’t take a single shot, holding them without an attempt in the opening and closing frames. The Pioneers only managed two shots for the match, and neither had to be touched by Hofstra goalkeeper Merlijn van der Vegt. In goal for Sacred Heart, Power saved four attempts but allowed the winning goal.

Hofstra created a number of opportunities to score throughout the match, taking nine shots, five of which got to Powers in goal. They also earned nine penalty corners, compared to just three from the Pioneers.

“[It was a] good game; we’re excited,” Veinotte said. “It doesn’t need to be pretty, but we got it done, so I’m happy about that.”

The Pride now holds a 2-3 record heading into next weekend’s two-game homestand that will wrap up non-conference play. Hofstra is set to host Fairfield University on Friday, March 12 and the University at Albany on Sunday, March 14.

Photo courtesy of Jacob Lewis/The Hofstra Chronicle