Men's soccer held at standstill with Drexel in 1-1 tie

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Hofstra Pride and Drexel University Dragons tied a men’s soccer match by a score of 1-1 at Vidas Athletic Complex on Saturday, Oct. 12. 

Hofstra rebounded from a two-game losing streak in which they gave up a combined seven goals – their most in any two-game stretch this season. The Pride are now 5-6-1 and 2-2-1 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. Drexel moved to 4-5-2 and is tied with Hofstra for fourth place in the CAA. 

This match was as even as the scoreboard indicated, as the teams tied in both shots and fouls, with 14 in each category, and Hofstra held a narrow corner kick advantage, six to five. 

Hofstra goalkeeper Alex Ashton made saves on all three of Drexel’s shots on goal in the first half, while a penalty kick converted by Drexel senior Francisco Rodrigues da Palma, following a Hofstra handball in the box, was his only blemish on the day. The Pride are in the bottom half of the CAA in both saves and save percentage, so this was certainly an improvement, albeit against a Drexel team in the bottom half of the conference in goals and goals per game. 

After da Palma’s goal – his second goal and fifth point on the year – at the 75:14 mark, the Pride responded just three minutes and 20 seconds later with a goal on a set piece. Through a corner kick, Oscar Ramsay drove the ball into the box, and Frederik Rieper headed it over to George O’Malley who knocked it into the back of the net to tie the game. It was O’Malley’s second goal of the season, and both Ramsay’s and Rieper’s first assist of the year. 

In overtime, the Pride’s second of the season, both teams mustered a shot on goal, but neither team could put one away to win it. Drexel goalkeeper Cameron Sanders, making his eighth start of the season, finished with two saves for the day. Sanders continued his impressive play, lowering his goals-against average to 1.30. Sanders’ play has contributed largely to the Dragons’ rank in the top half of the CAA in saves, save percentage and saves per game. 

Hofstra is now 19-28-11 all-time versus Drexel.

Image courtesy of Hofstra Athletics