Charlottesville, Va. – The Hofstra Men's Soccer fell, 1-0, to Virginia on Tuesday night at Klockner Stadium after the Cavaliers scored the game's lone goal in the 79th minute.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Ashton made five saves in the second half to keep the Pride within striking distance, but Hofstra couldn't find an equalizer, dropping to 6-4-1.

But the Pride was not without its chances. Halfway through the first half, senior Joseph Holland took a free kick from about 35 yards out, sending a quality service into traffic in the 18-yard box, but the Virginia defense was there to clear it out of danger. Moments later, senior Nino Alfonso sent a ball forward that freshman Luke Brown got a head on before classmate Adam Savill volleyed it into the side netting on his first touch of the game.

Sophomore Daniel Massey tested Cavaliers goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell later in the frame, getting off a strong point-blank shot, but Caldwell made the stop to keep the game scoreless.

Ashton made three of his stops early in the second half, including a tip save on a rebound after his first stop had ricocheted back out into the box.

About 10 minutes later, Holland found junior Danny Elliott wide open on the left side, but Elliott's shot sailed wide. Then, after a Virginia defender mishit the ball, Holland created space from himself, dancing around three defenders, but his resulting shot was also off target.

Edward Opoku then took the win for the Cavaliers, one-touching a cross from the left flank into the upper corner of the net.

Each of Hofstra's four losses have come to a team either ranked or receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America national rankings. Virginia (5-2-3) had been ranked in the Top 25 before dropping into the "receiving votes" category.  

The Pride returns home and to conference play on Saturday, hosting William & Mary at 7 p.m. at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.