Offensive explosion powers Hofstra over Hampton
The Hofstra Pride men’s lacrosse team defeated the Hampton University Pirates 15-4 at Armstrong Stadium in Hampton, Virginia, on Saturday, April 22. The Pride collected their third win in their last four matches and got back-to-back wins for the second time this season. They’re 5-8 overall and 3-3 in conference games with a 4-2 away record.
John Madsen ended his drought with a pair of goals to contribute to a long list of goal-scorers from the Pride that day. His first of two arrived in the middle of the second period before he made it a double in the final seconds of the third. With this, Madsen made his return to the scoresheet after not having scored in a single game since Hofstra’s loss to the Fairfield University Stags on March 18.
Matt Elder also scored twice for the Pride, tying with Madsen at the top of Hofstra’s scoring list this season with 18 goals apiece. Sterlyn Ardrey and John Veit made up the other half of four players from the Pride to record two goals in the contest.
With Hofstra in cruise control during the second half, Trey Parkes and Drew Togno took the opportunity to score their first goals of the season. Regular goal-scorers such as Rory Jones, Colton Rudd and Gerard Kane also found the back of the net.
Hofstra managed to keep the game lopsided by constantly keeping the ball on the opponent’s half of the field for most of the game. They outnumbered Hampton 40-24 in total shots and 27-14 in shots-on-goal. Goalkeeper Mac Gates made 10 saves as Hofstra conceded the fewest number of goals in a single game this season.
As for Hampton, they only managed to score one goal per period. Darius Stanley scored in the second period to reach double figures on the season for the Pirates. It was merely a consolation as the home side turned the ball over 21 times throughout the game.
Fresh off their upset win over the Drexel University Dragons, the Pride easily knocked off the Pirates in their first-ever meeting in men’s lacrosse. They handed the Pirates their eighth consecutive defeat, as they have not won a match in over a month. In addition to their 2-11 overall record, they’re winless in their six conference game appearances. It’s the Pirates’ first season in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) after leaving the Big South Conference in July 2022.
Hofstra is back to .500 in conference games this year with one game remaining in the regular season. They’ll play host to the Stony Brook University Seawolves at the James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, New York, on Saturday, April 29, at 7 p.m.
It’s a must-win as they find themselves one game off a spot in the top four of the CAA standings. Stony Brook only needs a win to cement themselves in the top four, which qualifies them for a spot in the CAA Championship in early May.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
