Hofstra falls 4-0 to Fairfield Stags

The Hofstra University field hockey team came out flat against the Fairfield University Stags, losing 4-0, at Hofstra University Field Hockey Stadium on Aug. 29. This game was the complete opposite of their season-opening contest where the Pride won 8-0 against Merrimack just days prior.

“I think ultimately it was a very fast-paced game for both sides of the ball, attack-wise and transition-wise,” said Hofstra field hockey head coach Courtney Veinotte. “Very even-stated game except for the score. They found the back of the net four times and we had a couple of posts and a couple of good opportunities, we just didn’t capitalize when we were in the circle.”

The Pride recorded eight corner kicks, 10 shots and three saves compared to the Stags’ seven corner kicks, 11 shots, and four saves.

Konstanze Hoffman scored on an unassisted backhand shot that ricocheted off of Pieke Roos’ leg and hit the back of the net just over five minutes into the game. The second goal came two minutes later where Erin McGinley knocked a defensive rebound into the net. Hofstra’s Samantha Spera had a shot hit off the post toward the closing minutes of the first quarter after a strong push from Maya Williams in an attempt to close the scoring gap.

Multiple corner attempts for Hofstra were shut down by Madison Milhous, who blocked two straight corners in the first period. The Fairfield defense put stops to downfield passes, pushing them out of bounds to stop any momentum the Pride could muster up.

“The tackling was a little bit hard and I think that that was rattling some of our flow. It was kind of receive the ball, hard tackle, stop, restart,” Veinotte said. “So it was a little bit of a chopped-up kind of style of play but ultimately we still were connecting the ball and we still were getting circle entries. They were applying pressure quickly on ball so I think that disrupted our play.”

“She’s been really organized on her defensive line very well. Today we needed a little bit of defensive transition kind of organization,” Veinotte said regarding Roos and her decision to start her in back-to-back. “Every week I’m looking for who’s bringing it that week.”

The third quarter saw minimal action with each side recording two shots and a combined three saves. Silvia Vetter attempted a cross into the circle but was stymied by the Stags goalie, Payton Rahn. Efermia Geralis had a chance at scoring a rebound shot but Rahn saved that as well.

A minute into the fourth quarter Vincent stole a pass from Richardson and passed it up to Alex Senior, who got by the diving Roos to score the third goal of the game. Three minutes later Frances Mirabile inserted a corner for Fairfield to Carmel Van Dijk who stopped it and passed it to Vincent who smacked it into the back of the net, putting the Stags up four goals to none.

The Pride sit at 1-1 to start the season and will host the Wagner College Seahawks on Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman