Albany, NY – Despite a hard-fought performance from start to finish, the Hofstra field hockey team suffered a 3-2 defeat away from home to #18 UAlbany to kick off the 2025 season. Hofstra is now 0-1, and UAlbany moves to 2-0.
 
Ranked 18th in the NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll, the Great Danes converted on the first penalty corner of the game to make it 1-0, before making the score 2-0 with 2:35 remaining in the opening quarter. Hofstra's Kelly Levengood brought the visitors back to within one with 20 seconds left before the end of the quarter with a redirect on an direct pass from Caitlin Lozano.
 
Hofstra earned a penalty stroke opportunity a minute into the third quarter, and Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention selection Teresa Karoff buried the shot past the UAlbany goalkeeper stick-side to even the score at 2-2. However, the Great Danes pulled back in front with a goal off its fourth penalty corner of the afternoon early in the fourth quarter, and the nationally-ranked hosts kept Hofstra at bay for the remainder of regulation to seal the win.
 
Luci Hollister earned her first start in goal and made two saves.
 
The Pride opens its home schedule on Sunday, August 31, at noon against Sacred Heart.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra and UAlbany finished the game tied with six shots each.
-The Great Danes finished with five penalty corners to Hofstra's four.
-This is the second consecutive season Hofstra opened its schedule against the 18th-ranked team in the country.
-Karoff's goal was the first Hofstra penalty stroke goal since Silvia Vetter's tally against Old Dominion on October 8, 2023.