Hempstead, NY - Junior Mercedes Currie found the back of the net twice for the hosts, while freshmen Lieke Gorsse, Simryn Desai, and Lara Borensztein all recorded their first goal in a Hofstra uniform as the Hofstra field hockey team (1-1) lit up the scoreboard in a 5-1 win over Wagner (0-1) in the first game of the 2021 season from the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Gorsse got the scoring started late in the first period after receiving a pass from freshman Tara McNally. Gorsse turned into space and unleashed a fireball from the top of the shooting arc that went off the cross bar and over the Wagner goalkeeper Erin Franklin.

Freshman Eline Oldeman sent the ball into the shooting arc into a direct path to the Wagner goalkeeper, but Desai got her stick on the ball to redirect it into the back of the net early in the second period. Wagner pulled one back just minutes later on a penalty corner as Laura van Hamburg deflected a pass from Liselotte Koop up and into the net. The Pride saw out the half with a 2-1 lead.

Currie found herself on the receiving end of a pass from McNally after the freshman defender attacked from the right flank and centered a ball to Currie on the doorstep of the goal for Pride's third goal of the afternoon. Hofstra continued to pour it on the visitors and were rewarded with Borensztein's first goal. Senior Cami Larsson received an inbound penalty corner and passed to senior Djuna Slort, and Slort fired a low shot that Borensztein redirected in.

Hofstra capped off the goal bonanza with the third of the period, and the second of the afternoon for Currie. Gorsse broke up a Wagner possession and Oldeman pounced on the loose ball, drawing two defenders before passing ahead to a streaking Gorsse, setting up the Pride with a brilliant counter-attacking opportunity. Gorsse drew Franklin off her line and fed a simple ball to Currie on the left, and she buried a wide-open look on goal for the fifth and final tally of the day for the Pride.

Hofstra will be back again on Friday, September 3, with a home game against Temple at 3 p.m.
 
NOTES
-Today's win improved Hofstra to 7-2 all-time against Wagner.
-The five goals marks the most goals scored in a home opener by Hofstra since scoring five against La Salle in 2013.
-Junior goalkeeper Merlijn van der Vegt made three saves in today's win.
-The Pride held Wagner to eight total shots while they peppered the Seahawks with 20 shots of their own.
-Eight Pride players recorded at least one point in today's win.