Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra field hockey team battled back from a one-goal deficit to tie the game with 15 seconds left and send the game to overtime against UAlbany, but the Great Danes scored the OT winner and came away with a 3-2 win over the Pride on Senior Day from a rainy, windy Cindy Lewis Stadium. Hofstra falls to 2-8 overall on the season, while UAlbany moves to 4-5.
The Pride opened the scoring with 8:23 left in the first quarter through
Kelly Levengood redirecting a pass from
Sarah Smalley into the back of the goal, but UAlbany answered back with 2:47 left in the quarter on a goal from the first penalty corner opportunity of the game for either side. The Great Danes found the back of the goal 1:13 into the second quarter on another penalty corner opportunity to take a 2-1 lead and hold onto the one-goal advantage despite being outshot 9-2 in the frame.
UAlbany kept Hofstra off the scoreboard while outshooting Hofstra 7-6 going into the final minute of regulation. With under 30 seconds left and an extra attacker after
Luci Hollister was pulled,
Malena Bertone zipped a ball from the defensive zone through the midfield and off a UAlbany stick, and Levengood jumped on the loose ball and played
Cara Zapach into space. With time winding down, Zapach fought off two Great Dane defenders before chipping the ball over the sliding goalkeeper and into the goal with seconds left in regulation.
Five minutes into the start of overtime, UAlbany charged down the field with numbers and buried the game-winner past a diving Hollister.
Levengood finished with a goal and an assist for three points, while Zapach tallied her second goal of the season, and Smalley dished out her second assist of the season. In goal, Hollister recorded seven saves.
Quinty Reumer scored two of UAlbany's three goals in the win, while Jette Kurz and Mara Kuskes assisted twice. Mathilde Prada scored the game-winning goal off a pass from Finleigh McClain, and Merle Vanndranger stopped four Hofstra shots.
Hofstra resumes CAA play on Friday with a trip to Philadelphia to face Drexel at 4 p.m.
NOTES:
-The Hofstra field hockey team honored
Kesia Richardson,
Tess Satterfield,
Sarah Smalley,
Camryn Stewart,
Tati Boyd,
Kelly Levengood, and
Alex Gordon in a pre-game Senior Day ceremony.
-Hofstra edged UAlbany in shots (18-16) and penalty corners (12-7). This is the first time since September 4 against Wagner that Hofstra held the advantage in both shots and penalty corners in a game.
-Hofstra is now 1-14 all-time against UAlbany.
