Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Field Hockey team will open their Colonial Athletic Association schedule on Friday, October 4 against Drexel, and wrap up their three game home stand on Sunday, October 6 against Merrimack at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium. The Drexel contest starts at 3 p.m. while the Merrimack game begins at noon.

Live video and audio of both games will streamed by Pride Productions free of charge on GoHofstra.com. WRHU-FM (88.7) student broadcasters Max Sacco and Anthony Roberts will call the Drexel game while Jesse Lindell and Lou Accumanno will call the Merrimack game. Hofstra will also provide live stats through HofstraStats.com. Links for both can be found elsewhere on this page as well as on the Hofstra Field Hockey schedule page on GoHofstra.com.

Hofstra is 4-5 on the season and the winner of four of their last five outings. The Pride is coming off a 2-1 victory over Yale on Sunday, September 29 in Hempstead. After trailing 1-0 at halftime, sophomore Cami Larsson and senior Madison Warfel scored third quarter goals to give the Pride the victory. Freshman Merlijn van der Vegt made four saves to record her fourth win of the year.

Hofstra is led in scoring by Larsson with five goals and one assist in nine games this season. She has two penalty stroke goals and two game-winning goals. Warfel has chipped in with three goals and one assist while freshman Mercedes Currie has added a goal and an assist. In goal, the Dutch newcomer van der Vegtn ow has a 2.18 goals against average, 47 saves, and a .746 save percentage in her seven outings.
 
The Dragons of Drexel are 1-7 on the season and on a three-game losing skid heading into their CAA opener on Friday. The Dragons have a win over Bryant (6-0) on September 15 and losses to Ohio (4-2), Indiana (4-3 in 2OTs), Saint Joseph's (4-1), Rider (3-1), Monmouth (5-0), Temple (3-2), and Cal (2-1). Drexel is led in scoring by sophomore Puk Thewessen with four goals and four assists for 12 points. Classmate Avery Powell has added four goals and one assist while senior Katie Bagdon has three goals and two assists. The Dragons have utilized two goalies this year with freshman Megan Hadfield posting a 3.07 goals against average in seven games, and sophomore Alexis Sokach recording a 2.84 G.A.A in six games.
 
Friday's contest is the 39^th meeting between Hofstra and Drexel. The Dragons hold a 21-16-1 series lead and have won the last three encounters including a 5-1 decision in Philadelphia last season. Hofstra's last victory in the series came in 2015 with the Pride posting a 3-2 overtime decision at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium.

The Warriors of Merrimack are also 1-7 on the season and coming off a 2-1 victory at Maine on Saturday, September 28. The Warriors have lost to Temple (3-0), Holy Cross (4-1), Longwood (3-0), Davidson (3-2), Vermont (4-1), Dartmouth (4-1) and Northeastern (7-0). Merrimack will face Bryant Friday night before coming to Long Island on Sunday. The Warriors are led in scoring by freshman Catherine Henaire with two goals and one assist. Senior Alex Mondini has one goal and one assist while classmate Miranda Judd has three assists. Sunday's contest is the first meeting between Hofstra and Merrimack as this is the Warriors first season in Division I.

Following Sunday's game against Merrimack, the Pride will hit the road for two CAA games next weekend. Hofstra will travel to William and Mary on Friday, October 11 for a 5 p.m. contest before heading to James Madison on Sunday, October 13 for a noon game.