Hofstra beats FDU after strong second half

On Thursday, Aug. 31, the Hofstra University women’s soccer team traveled to Teaneck, New Jersey, to continue their 2023 campaign, defeating the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Knights 2-1 with a second-half comeback at University Stadium.

 The win puts the Pride at 2-2 on the year, while the Knights fall to 0-5.

Defender Sasha McTiffin scored the winning goal in the 74th minute to give the Pride its second win of the season. Midfielder Wiktoria Fronc attempted to play a one-touch pass across the box, but was blocked by an FDU defender. Fronc then regained possession before she played the ball to the top of the box, where she found McTiffin wide open, who then took a one-touch strike sneaking the ball in the net past goalkeeper Marie Jakobsen. This marked McTiffin’s first career goal.

The Pride’s goal in the 67th minute tied up the game as FDU had scored an early goal. As a 50-50 ball was played into the Knights half, Fronc was the lone Hofstra player who ran to challenge the ball. The FDU defender in front of her got a head to it, but Fronc’s speed allowed her to take a one-touch strike to place the ball in the wide-open net tying the game 1-1. This marked Fronc’s first career goal.

FDU’s goal came early, just 38 seconds into the game. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Sullivan made the initial save off a shot from midfielder Naemi Hausen, but forward Ana Salas was in the right place at the right time as she tapped home the rebound to give the Knights the early lead.

The Pride’s defense held the Knight’s offense to just one shot off target in the second half to secure the win.

The Pride finished with 22 total shots and 14 on target, compared to FDU’s six total shots and two on target. Sullivan made one total save during the game while Jakobsen made 12.

Fronc led the team with five total shots and four on goal. Forwards Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir and Mathilde Braithwaite followed behind with four shots each.

Hofstra finished with five corner kicks compared to FDU’s two.

Hofstra returns to Hempstead, New York, for its home opener and final non-conference game of the season against Saint Joseph’s University on Sunday, Sept. 3, at 1 p.m.

Photo Courtesy of Ariel Fox/Hofstra Athletics