Hempstead, NY - Despite a strong third quarter and an intense fourth quarter, the Hofstra field hockey team's late rally fell short as the Pride suffered a 3-2 defeat in Colonial Athletic Association action to No. 21 Delaware Friday afternoon from the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium. Hofstra sees its record slip to 5-8 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

Delaware (6-6, 2-0 CAA) opened the scoring five minutes into the first quarter on the first penalty corner of the day for either team. Reigning CAA Rookie of the Year Julia Duffhuis bagged her ninth goal of the season when she smacked her shot past Merlijn van der Vegt. The Fightin' Blue Hens would extend their lead to 2-0 at 9:16 of the second quarter when van der Vegt broke up a Delaware shooting opportunity, but Morgan Rigual claimed the loose ball and scored on the open net. Rigual would strike again at 8:05 of the third quarter when Femke Strien found her unmarked after drawing a swarm of Hofstra defenders, and Rigual capitalized on the 1v1 opportunity for her second goal of the day.

Following Delaware's third goal, the Pride surged to two goals in 22 seconds, putting the score at 3-2. Djuna Slort cashed in on Hofstra's sixth penalty corner of the day with her second goal of the season, finishing off a set-up from Karissa Hough and beating Delaware's Lizzie Gaebel at the right post. Just seconds later, Simryn Desai intercepted a Delaware pass in their own end and drove at the Delaware goal with numbers. She drew a defender before laying off to an open Eline Oldeman, and Oldeman fired it into the net for her fifth of the season, making it a one-goal game in the blink of an eye.

Mercedes Currie had an opportunity to tie the game in the fourth quarter when she collected a mishandled Delaware clearance and backhanded a hard shot on goal that Gaebel just narrowly batted away with her blocker. Despite intense pressure, Hofstra was unable to level the score, and the Fightin' Blue Hens escaped with a narrow one-goal victory.

The Pride will host Senior Day on Sunday, October 10, in a 1 p.m. contest against Drexel.

NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 7-29 against Delaware, and have dropped the last seven meetings with the Fightin' Blue Hens.
-Simryn Desai recorded her fourth assist of the season, and her third assist in three games.
-Hofstra finished the day with a 6-5 advantage over Delaware in penalty corners. All six of Hofstra's corners came in the third quarter.
-The Pride outshot Delaware, 8-6, in today's game. Frankie O'Brien led the team with two total shots.