The No. 22 Hofstra University men’s soccer team defeated Loyola University Maryland, 3-0, in Baltimore, on Sept. 24. The Pride bounced back after their first loss of the season as they improved to 7-1-1 overall.
It only took 66 seconds for Hofstra to jump in front as Teddy Baker scored in his second consecutive game. The forward received a pass from team captain Roc Carles, cut inside the box and fired it down the middle of the net to put the first tally on the board.
The Pride doubled their advantage in the 75th minute as Laurie Goddard scored his third goal of the season. Jacob Woznicki, the leading scorer for Hofstra, found Goddard with space inside the penalty area before the midfielder slipped it into the bottom left corner. Woznicki has five goals this season, recording his first assist during this game.
Three minutes later, a penalty was awarded to the Pride as Loyola Maryland defender Jahvar Stephenson committed the foul inside the box, resulting in a yellow card. Eoin Farrell, who returned to play after a one-game absence, struck his penalty kick down the middle to put the game beyond reasonable doubt. Farrell has three goals this season, all from penalties.
The Pride outranked the Greyhounds 15-8 in total shots and had a season high of 12 shots-on-goal. Goddard now leads the team with 15 shots-on-goal, two coming from this match up, as well as nine points in as many games.
Goalkeeper Filippo Dadone made three saves to complete his sixth shutout in nine games. The Greyhounds goalkeeper Dylan Van der Walt’s seven saves could not spark the rest of the squad as they remained scoreless. It was the highest number of saves made by a keeper against Hofstra all season.
The hosts had a slow start offensively and had trouble with discipline, picking up four more yellow cards than the Pride while committing the same number of fouls.
Hofstra, led by head coach Richard Nuttall, returned to the winner’s circle in their first meeting with Loyola Maryland since 2007, tying the all-time series at two-a-piece. It was a much needed response for the Pride following their first defeat of the season to Monmouth University on Sept. 21.
The victory also served as a final warm-up before Hofstra returned home to face No. 14 Elon University in a conference clash, both teams being ranked programs. The Pride trailed the Phoenix by three points in the standings heading into the match.
It was also the day Hofstra men’s soccer celebrated 70 years and the renaming of its home stadium from Hofstra Soccer Stadium to Captains Field.
Kickoff was scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sept. 28.
Photo courtesy of Royce Dickson-Child
