Field hockey falls to Vermont in overtime

It took overtime to decide the game, but the Hofstra field hockey team fell on the road to the University of Vermont Catamounts, 2-1. Two different players scored for Vermont, and the Pride received their lone goal from Eline Oldeman. The loss drops the Pride to 2-3 on the season.

Oldeman’s goal was the first in her Hofstra career, joining Lara Borensztein, Simryn Desai, and Lieke Gorsse as the fourth freshman to score a goal for the Pride this season. 

Both teams played intense defense throughout the game, as neither team scored in the first half. Both teams combined for two shots in the first quarter, with neither of them were on goal. Vermont got the scoring started with 10 minutes left in the third quarter, as Alina Gerke found the back of the net. After Oldeman scored the equalizer with five minutes left in the quarter, neither team had much action until overtime.

Vermont dominated the overtime period, out-shooting the Pride 4-0, including a penalty corner. That penalty corner resulted in the game-winning goal for Vermont, scored by Sophia Drees.

An issue for the Pride was the lack of pressure they put on the Catamounts’ defense. They took five shots in the game, with only four of them being on goal. Aside from Oldeman, who took three shots, only two Pride players took a shot: Djuna Slort and Mercy Jasterzenski.

Vermont outshot the Pride 10-5, including four penalty corners to the Pride’s one. After tying the game in the third quarter, they only managed two more shots on goal in the rest of the game.

Despite allowing the two goals, Merlijn van der Vegt recorded six saves, her third-highest total of the season. She currently ranks second in the Colonial Athletic Association in saves, trailing only Lena Vandam of Towson University.

On Sunday, Sept. 12, they will continue their road trip when they travel to Lowell, Massachusetts to face off against the University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks. They have yet to win or lose two games in a row, alternating wins and losses for the first five games of the season.

Photo Courtesy of Adam Flash/The Hofstra Chronicle