Pride drops season opener to No. 18 Old Dominion

The Hofstra University field hockey team lost their 2024 season opener 3-0 to No. 18 Old Dominion University on Sunday, Sept. 1. It was the first time the Pride lost their season opener in three years.

Before the game, Hofstra honored the late field hockey coach turned Executive Associate Director of Athletics, Cindy Lewis. Lewis lost her battle with cancer in October after 41 years of service to Hofstra Athletics. The field was renamed in her honor.

“It was a very special day,” said Hofstra head coach Hillary Fitts. “[The ceremony] was so well put together for Cindy Lewis. Obviously, she was such a great mentor and a great part of the program.”

In game action, the Monarchs rolled on top of the Pride with two goals from Sian Emslie and another from Frederique Zandbergen. Pieke Roos made 10 saves in the loss as the Monarchs outshot Hofstra 13-2.

Old Dominion suffocated the Pride early with two shots in the first three minutes. The early press by Old Dominion paid off, rewarding them with the first of their nine corners which Roos turned away leading to a spotless first quarter.

“[Having Roos] puts your life at ease when you’re in front [of her],” Fitts said. “You know you have someone back there who can stop everything. We need to start stepping up and preventing those great opportunities in front of her.”

Hofstra survived much of Old Dominion’s second-quarter onslaught as Roos’ save total continued to climb. Zandbergen broke through with just under five minutes left in the second quarter. Three minutes later, Emslie scored her first of the game and the Pride found themselves with a 2-0 deficit at halftime.

The Pride opened the second half in a much more competitive fashion playing toe-to-toe with the Monarchs. Hofstra and Old Dominion both had two shots on goal and one corner opportunity in the final 30 minutes of play. The only difference came seven minutes into the third quarter with Emslie’s second goal of the game.

The Pride’s best opportunity came off their only corner attempt with three minutes left in the game. Teresa Karoff took the corner and passed the ball to Jamie McMillian, who launched it into the net just under the crossbar. The goal was called back due to McMillian’s initial shot entering the goal too high.

Fitts stuck to her preseason goal to give as many players field time as possible. In total, 20 members of the Pride stepped onto the field.

“It was the first game,” Fitts said. “We’re going to keep trying out a lot of versatility pieces with different personnel in different positions. [It’s about] trying new things.”

The Pride took to the field at the University of Maine on Friday, Sept. 6 at 3 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco