Bethlehem, PA – Freshman Matt Elder scored his first collegiate goal with 1:42 to play to break a 3-3 tie and give the Hofstra Pride Men's Lacrosse team a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the 13th-ranked Mountain Hawks of Lehigh at Frank Banko Field Saturday afternoon.

Elder's tally, off a pass from sophomore James Philbin, capped a furious three-goal fourth quarter for the Pride as Hofstra rallied from a 3-1 deficit to post the season opening victory over Lehigh. Freshman Whit Stopak, James Philbin and junior Ryan Tierney notched the other three goals for the Pride. Red-shirt sophomore goalie Bobby Casey made 14 saves in his starting debut in the Pride goal while facing 38 Mountain Hawk shots.

Lehigh (1-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals in the first and second quarters as Ryan Klose dented the twine with 2:42 to play in the first quarter while Mickey Fitzpatrick scored with 6:24 to play in the half for a 2-0 lead. But Stopak notched his first collegiate goal just 31 seconds after Fitzpatrick's goal to cut the deficit to 2-1 at halftime.

The Mountain Hawks boosted the lead to 3-1 with just 2.7 seconds remaining in the third as Fitzpatrick notched his second off a pass from Eddie Bouhall.

Hofstra closed the gap early in the fourth quarter as Philbin scored his first collegiate goal just 1:22 into the period. Almost two minutes later, 2018 All-CAA selection Ryan Tierney notched his first of the season to knot the game up at 3-3.

On the winning goal, Philbin sent a pass to a cutting Elder who fired a low shot past Lehigh goalie James Spence (16 saves) to give the Pride their third season opening victory in the last four years.

Hofstra returns to action next Saturday, February 16 when the Pride host the Utes of Utah in the home opener at James M. Shuart Stadium. Game time is 1 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.

Notes
- Hofstra now leads the series with Lehigh, 6-1 and avenged a 13-8 loss to the Mountain Hawks in Hempstead last season.
- The Pride win over #13 Lehigh marks the fourth consecutive season that Hofstra has recorded a Top 15 victory.
- The Pride was slightly outshot by Lehigh, 38-36. The Mountain Hawks picked up 36 ground balls to the Pride's 25.
- Hofstra won for the 45th time in its 71 season openers to improve to 45-26. The Pride is 8-5 under Seth Tierney in season openers.
- Pride coach Seth Tierney recorded his 105th victory at Hofstra.
- Hofstra junior Ryan Tierney added one point to his career total on Saturday and now has 59 goals and 38 assists for 97 points in 29 career games.