Hempstead, NY - Sam Lutfi scored the game-winner with 2:07 left in the first overtime as the Hofstra men's lacrosse team earned an 8-7 victory over Monmouth on Saturday afternoon at James M. Shuart Stadium. 

Lutfi finished with three points on two goals and an assist and was joined in the game with three points by Rory Jones (2 G, 1 A) and John Madsen (1 G, 2 A). 

Hofstra improved to 4-6 and 1-2 in CAA play with the win. Monmouth dropped to 4-5 and 1-2 in the league. The win ended a five-game losing skid for the Pride. 

The Pride got the low-scoring affair started just over 90 seconds in as Jones found the back of the net off an assist from Griffin Turner. The game would be knotted at two after the first quarter but the Pride was able to take a 4-3 lead into the halftime break as Madsen and Matt Vilas scored in the final five minutes of the second quarter for Hofstra. 

The lead grew to three, 6-3, midway through the third quarter with Lutfi and Justin Sykes scoring for Hofstra. Monmouth would have a run in them, though, and the Hawks outscored the Pride, 4-1, over the final 20 minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime. 

Both teams had their opportunities in the overtime with the Pride finally capitalizing and grabbing the important conference victory. 

Sean Henderson made 10 saves in the game and went over 100 for his career. He needed seven for the milestone and also added a team-high four ground balls. 

Connor Macrae had four goals for Monmouth, which also got two goals from Connor Gorman. 

Hofstra will head to Towson next weekend as the Pride will take on the Tigers on Saturday, April 6 at 12 p.m. 

NOTES
- Hofstra is now 4-0 all-time against Monmouth. The first meeting was in 2017 and last season the Pride captured a 12-6 win on the road in the first meeting between the teams as conference rivals. 
- The seven goals allowed were the fewest allowed this season by the Pride and the fewest since allowing four to Hampton on April 22, 2023. 
- The game was Hofstra's first overtime contest since March 26, 2022 versus Providence and the Pride's first overtime victory since April 6, 2019 (10-9 win over Massachusetts). 
- The 10 saves marked the fourth time this season that Henderson has reached double figures. 
- The goal by Matt Vilas was his first career point and he was assisted by Blake Cooling, whose assist was his second career point (two assists).