Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Field Hockey team suffered a 3-2 home defeat to conference-rival Drexel on Senior Day from the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium on a soggy Sunday afternoon. The Pride's record slips to 5-9 overall and 0-4 against Colonial Athletic Association competition.
Following a scoreless first half, the Pride jumped ahead thanks to a well-placed effort from
Cami Larsson. A Drexel defender mishandled a takeaway opportunity, allowing for Larsson to collect a takeaway of her own outside the Drexel end. Larsson unleashed a backhander upon entering the top of the shooting arc over the left blocker of Drexel goalie Megan Hadfield and in for her third tally of the season, giving Hofstra a 1-0 lead four minutes into the third quarter.
The Dragons (5-9, 2-1 CAA) instantly responded to even the score just seconds later. On their first penalty corner opportunity of the quarter, Amber Brouwer positioned herself at the right post and got her stick onto a shot attempt from Puk Thewessen to redirect it past
Merlijn van der Vegt and in 42 seconds after Larsson's opener.
Drexel took the lead off yet another penalty corner opportunity. Thewessen had another shot on Hofstra's goal redirected into the back of the net, this time by Tina Rawa, to give the visiting Dragons a 2-1 lead five minutes into the final quarter. Drexel added to its lead less than a minute later on a counter-attacking opportunity when Avery Powell collected a long ball and drove into left side of the Hofstra shooting arc. She crossed the ball to a waiting Eline Di Leva, and she got just enough power to sneak the ball past van der Vegt, giving the road team a two-goal advantage with 8:23 still to play.
The Pride found a glimmer of hope inside the final three minutes off the stick of Oldeman for the sixth time this season. Oldeman got in the way of a Drexel pass along their defense, forcing a loose ball that was collected by
Cami Valor just outside the Drexel 23-meter line. Valor passed to Oldeman after drawing a swarm of defenders, and the Dutch freshman spun to her right unleashed a fastball past Hadfield and in with 2:55 left on the clock. Unfortunately, it would be the final shot of the game until the final whistle sounded.
Hofstra will conclude its home schedule on October 15 against Towson before heading on the road for a non-contest game against Fairfield on October 17.
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NOTES:
-Hofstra's all-time record against Drexel now stands at 17-24-1.
-With her goal today, Oldeman currently leads all freshmen in the CAA with 14 points and six goals.
-Prior to the start of today's game, Hofstra field hockey honored six graduating seniors in
Frankie O'Brien,
Mercy Jasterzenski,
Djuna Slort,
Ming Doherty,
Haley Carter, and
Cecelia DeSimone.
-Drexel earned nine penalty corners to just one for Hofstra. Hofstra's penalty corner was the first penalty corner of the game for either team.
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Merlijn van der Vegt made four saves in today's game.
-Oldeman, Larsson, and
Mercedes Currie each took one shot on goal.
