By Zack Penn -- STAFF WRITER Hofstra men’s soccer played to their third straight draw Wednesday night in a hard-fought 1-1 match against conference rival Northeastern University at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
The Pride has been plagued by an inability to convert quality chances into goals all season and this match was no different. They outmuscled and outshot the Northeastern Huskies for most of the game – including a whopping 10 shots on goal – but trailed through most of the contest after Harry Swartz’s goal put Northeastern ahead just before the 22 minute mark.
Hofstra answered with just 15 minutes left in the game when senior, Danny Elliott centered a brilliant cross that freshman Matthew Vowinkel headed in for his first goal of the season.
Elliott had a chance to put the game away himself in double-overtime when an errant Northeastern pass left him in perfect position to score. With only 45 seconds remaining in the game, Elliott sprinted into the box and fired a left-footed shot that didn’t quite bend enough and sailed wide of the goal.
Elliott leads the CAA with 3.22 shots per game, but Hofstra will need other players to step up if they want any chance at another deep Colonial Athletic Association tournament run. The Pride has only scored five goals in nine games this season and have tied in five of their last six games.
The team has hoped that 2016’s CAA Rookie of the Year Luke Brown would step in and fill departed star Joe Holland’s shoes. However, the sophomore has not been able to make the same level of impact yet this season, evidenced by the disjointed nature of Hofstra’s offense.
Against Northeastern, Hofstra attackmen were routinely in prime position for scoring opportunities, but sloppy passing and careless turnovers ended possessions a copious amount of times. Players were visibly frustrated at one another for all the missed opportunities, with many shouting at each other to “pick up the pace” and “play with intensity.”
The first half was particularly sloppy for both teams. After a fifteen minute rain delay, multiple areas along the sideline were “dead zones” covered in water that caused many players to slip and the ball to stop dead in its tracks. The delay seemed to fluster the Pride as they came out lethargic and slow before flipping the proverbial switch after Northeastern scored.
Hofstra (1-3-5) will look to get in the win column for the first time in over a month when they travel to Harrisonburg, Virginia, Saturday night to take on the James Madison University Bulldogs.