The Hofstra Pride field hockey team defeated the Towson Tigers 3-1 in their Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opening game on Friday afternoon.

The Pride (3-9, 1-0) bounced back from two big losses at home. The Tigers fell to 1-8, 0-1 on the year.

This matchup between these CAA rivals was their 39th all-time meeting. Hofstra has the upper hand in the series, leading 28-11. The Pride have now taken the last eight games from Towson.

About 20 minutes into the game, Towson got on the board first. The goal was scored by Kendra Sykes, her first of the season.

Senior Madison Sauve knotted up the score at one with 2:49 remaining in the first period. That was Sauve’s first goal of the season.

In the second half, freshman Cami Larsson scored a goal off the penalty corner to give the Pride a 2-1 lead. Redshirt sophomore Madison Georgiana earned the assist on the eventual game-winning goal. It was Larsson’s third goal on the season and Georgiana’s third assist.

With that assist, Georgiana has now recorded a point in five consecutive contests.

Just a little over a minute later, Larsson scored again for the Pride to give them a little comfort in the second half. Grad student Valerie Vogels and Sauve both earned assists on the play off the penalty corner. Sauve sent the ball into Vogels from the corner who then set up Larsson for the goal.

Hofstra had six shots in the game, five of which were on goal. Towson only had three shots, with two of them on net.

Freshman goalkeeper Betty Bosma allowed one goal on the game and picked up a save.

The Pride return to Long Island to host William & Mary on Sunday at noon. Hofstra has the all-time series advantage over the Tribe 13-7.

Image courtesy of Cam Keough