Teaneck, N.J. – Senior forward Maid Memic scored in the 52nd minute and sophomore Joseph Holland followed with his first scoring strike of the season to lift the Pride to a 2-1 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday night in a non-conference matchup at University Stadium.
Hofstra scored two goals less than two minutes apart to win its second straight game. The Pride capped a season-opening five-game road swing with a 2-1-2 record. FDU's Miguel Escobar scored to account for the Knights only goal as the squad dropped to 1-3-1.
Memic scored a goal for the second straight game, following up a goal against Rutgers with the game-opening score at 51:55. Memic gained separation in the box and beat goalkeeper Matthew Weigner for his second goal of the season. Just 1:55 later, Memic facilitated Holland's first goal for a 2-0 edge.
Holland, who entered the game with four assists in his last two games, now has six points in his last three games. The London, England native scored his first goal since Oct. 21, 2012 at Delaware when he capitalized on Memic's pass and beat Weigner low for a two-goal advantage.
That cushion was needed as Escobar, who came on as a reserve, scored off a deflection just inside the right post in the 57th minute. Deshawn Forbes assisted on Escobar's first goal of the season to cut Hofstra's lead in half.
Enver Caymaz nearly scored the equalizer in the 71st minute. Left unmarked following a scramble for the ball inside the attacking area, Caymaz, who was situated to the net's right side, tried to beat Pray to the high left-side but missed the net to keep Hofstra ahead by a goal.
FDU generated a corner kick with 5:45 remaining, but freshman Danny Elliott helped clear the ball to thwart the cross. Pray made his best stop of the night when Caymaz fired a close-range shot with 1:28 remaining in regulation. Pray cut off the angle and blocked the shot to his left to secure the win.
FDU looked to get the early jump when Sam Durkot headed a corner kick that hit the right post and bounced out precariously close to the goal line before Hofstra cleared it in the fifth minute.
Elliott gave Hofstra's offense a boost when his 11th minute shot hit the crossbar. Holland generated an open shot less than four minutes later that Weigner saved.
Holland nearly set up another good chance in the 30th minute when his attempted outlet pass to Nino Alfonso skipped just a little too ahead of his teammate with Weigner racing out to corral the ball an end the potential scoring chance. Weigner finished with one save.
Hofstra played an opponent to a scoreless opening half for the fourth time in five games this season. Both teams mustered just one shot-on-goal through the opening 45 minutes.
Hofstra will open up the home portion of the schedule on Sunday at 1 p.m. versus Dartmouth.
Box Score
MSOC: Hofstra at FDU Postgame (9/11/14)
