Delaware’s TJ Hastings scored a late goal in the 65th minute to give his team a 2-1 victory over No. 18 Hofstra in a Coastal Athletic Association matchup on Saturday. The loss ended Hofstra’s impressive 12-game unbeaten streak and marked their first defeat since August 28.
Hofstra’s overall record now stands at 9-2-4, with a 3-1-2 record in league play. Delaware, on the other hand, improved to 8-2-4 overall and 2-2-2 in CAA action.
The first half of the game ended in a scoreless tie, with both teams having a few chances but failing to find the back of the net. Each team managed only one shot on goal during this period.
Delaware wasted no time in the second half and broke the deadlock just over a minute into the half with a goal from Richard Monath. However, Hofstra responded quickly and equalized at 55:34 through a header from Pierce Infuso, assisted by Eliot Goldthorp. But their joy was short-lived as Hastings scored the game-winning goal for Delaware at 64:08, converting a pass from Jan Schroeder.
Delaware goalkeeper Adam Vik made four saves, preventing Hofstra from equalizing again. On the other side, Hofstra’s Wessel Speel also made four saves to keep his team in the game.
Hofstra will have a chance to bounce back when they face No. 24 New Hampshire on Tuesday night. This upcoming matchup will be another tough challenge for Hofstra, and they will need to regroup quickly after this defeat to put up a strong performance.
In some additional notes about the game, Hofstra holds a respectable 23-13-2 all-time record against Delaware. Pierce Infuso’s goal in this match was his first of the season, while Eliot Goldthorp leads Hofstra with eight assists. It is also worth mentioning that Hofstra has been successful in one-goal games this season, with a 5-2 record in such matches.
Overall, this loss to Delaware is a setback for Hofstra, but they have shown throughout the season that they are a strong team capable of bouncing back. With a quick turnaround before their next match, the team will have the opportunity to learn from this defeat and come back even stronger against New Hampshire.