Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra Men's Lacrosse team, fresh off a thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind victory at then-#13 Lehigh last Saturday, will open its 2019 home schedule this Saturday, February 16 when the Pride host the Utes of Utah at James M. Shuart Stadium. Game time is 1 p.m.

Hofstra will provide a live video stream through the Pride Productions, and live stats through HofstraStats.com. Links for both can be found elsewhere on this page as well as on the Hofstra Men's Lacrosse schedule page on GoHofstra.com.

Hofstra's comeback from a 3-1 deficit to start the fourth quarter at Lehigh resulted in the Pride's fourth consecutive season that Hofstra has recorded a Top 15 victory. Sophomore James Philbin recorded a goal and an assist while junior Ryan Tierney and freshmen Whit Stopak and Matt Elder recorded the Pride goals. Elder's goal with 1:42 remaining in regulation snapped a 3-3 deadlock and was the margin of difference. It also earned Elder the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week award.

Red-shirt sophomore goalie Robert Casey tallied 14 saves in his collegiate starting debut against the Mountain Hawks of Lehigh and earned both the GoHofstra.com Student-Athlete of the Week and a place on the USILA Team of the Week.

Hofstra now leads the series with Lehigh, 6-1 and avenged a 13-8 loss to the Mountain Hawks in Hempstead in 2018. The Pride won for the 45th time in its 71 season openers to improve to 45-26. The Pride is 8-5 under Seth Tierney, who recorded his 105th victory, in season openers.

The Utes of Utah, a first-year Division I program, come to Long Island with a 1-1 slate this season with a season-opening 21-6 loss to Vermont before recording their first victory last Saturday with a 13-9 decision over Mercer. In the victory, sophomore attackman Josh Stout, a Utah native, tallied seven goals and one assist, while junior midfielder Aaron Fjeldsted, another native son, added three goals for the Utes. Sophomore goalie Liam Donnelly recorded 13 saves to post the victory.

Stout leads the Utes in scoring with 10 goals and two assists in two games while Fjeldsted has four goals. Sophomore Jake Stout, Josh's brother, has contributed two goals. Junior James Sexton leads the Utes with four assists. Donnelly has tallied 24 saves in two games and has a 14.10 goals against average and a .471 save percentage.

After the Utah contest, Hofstra will return to action on Saturday, February 23 when the Pride travel to Pennsylvania to face the Wildcats of Villanova at noon.
 
The next Hofstra home game is on Tuesday, February 26 when the Pride host the Seawolves of Stony Brook at Shuart Stadium at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at HofstraTickets.com, by telephone by calling (516) HOF-TIXX, by visiting the Hofstra Athletics Box Office in the lobby of the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex during normal business hours, or at the gate at Shuart Stadium on game day.