Evanston, Ill. – Junior goalkeeper Patric Pray made six saves to help Hofstra play Northern Illinois to a season-opening 0-0 tie on Friday in the Sheraton Chicago-Northbrook Lakeside Classic.
Pray recorded his fifth career shutout in the scoreless draw, matching NIU counterpart Andrew Glaeser. The Pride moved to Hofstra is 19-21-9 all-time on Opening Day in seasons in which game-by-game records are available
Pray logged three stops after halftime, including a stop on Chris Patton's 25-yard free kick in the 47th minute to keep the game deadlocked. Glaeser posted two saves.
Hofstra was forced to play the entirety of overtime with just 10 men on the field after freshman Jon Fraser was whistled for his second yellow card in the 89th minute. Hofstra's defense, led by senior Daniel Grundei and junior Marius Flateboe, played well in front of Pray and allowed the Pride to come through the game with a clean sheet.
Grundei played all 110 minutes in his Hofstra debut. The defender was a former captain of Towson before the Tigers cut the program and he transferred to join the Pride's back line. Sophomore Harri Hawkins also played every minute in his Hofstra debut.
Senior forward Mais Memic registered Hofstra's first shot on goal in the 73rd minute that Glaeser stopped. Freshman Meshack Eshun Addy headed in an on-target attempt in the 87th minute that was also stopped, sending the game into overtime.
Freshman Danny Elliott gave Hofstra its last chance with a little more than a minute remaining in the second overtime when his free kick at the top of the box was blocked.
The Pride played to their first scoreless tie since the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament quarterfinals against George Mason in which the Pride advanced on penalty kicks.
Hofstra will next be in action on Sunday against Northwestern with a 2:30 p.m. game.. Northwestern is coming off a 2013 NCAA Tournament appearance with a first-round overtime loss to Bradley. The Wildcats are led by senior goalkeeper Tyler Miller, was named to the 2014 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch list for an award given to the top player in college soccer.
