van der Vegt stellar in net as Hofstra falls to No. 10 Syracuse

The Hofstra Field Hockey team suffered a 1-0 loss on Sunday, Sept. 18, against No. 10 Syracuse University. The Pride held their ground in a defensive bout, suffering their fifth loss on the year. Hofstra goalie Merlijn van der Vegt was once again stellar in net, making seven saves in the contest.

Syracuse dominated possession of the ball as they fired off seven shots in the first 10 minutes of the game Hofstra was able to get a shot off before the end of the first quarter, but it did not hit the mark, and the score remained 0-0 heading into the second quarter.

The defense on both sides remained story entering the second quarter, where the two teams combined for just two total shot attempts. The score remained 0-0 after one half of play.

Syracuse eventually took control in the second half, peppering van der Vegt with 12 shots. Hofstra remained unable to gain possession of the ball, they ended the game without a single shot on goal in the second half.

Both teams continued battling into the fourth as no one was giving anything up defensively. Early in the fourth, a yellow card was drawn on Hofstra’s Riley Maclntosh. With five minutes left to go in the fourth quarter, Syracuse made a strong offensive push, putting up four straight shots on four straight possessions. Then with two minutes left in the game, Laura Graziosi struck her first goal of the season to give Syracuse the 1-0 lead and the only score of the day.

. The loss was the Pride’s fourth on the road this year, as they remain without a win away from Hempstead. Next week the Pride will look to bounce back into the win column when they take on Sacred Heart University at home on Friday, Sept. 23, at 3 pm.

Photo Courtesy of Jacob Lewis/The Hofstra Chroicle