SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Hofstra University men came back to equalize three times, but Syracuse University scored with 2:17 remaining to register a dramatic 4-3 win at SU Soccer Stadium Sunday night.

Tajon Buchanan tallied the game-winner.

Junior Luke Brown scored twice for Hofstra, while senior Sean Nealis finished with a goal and an assist as the Pride dropped to 0-3-1 and the Orange improved to 2-1.

The first half saw four goals, with Syracuse getting on the board first, knocking in a rebound in the 15th minute.

The Pride responded quickly, with Brown cashing in on a penalty kick to knot the score at 1-1. The Orange regained the lead in the 27th minute on a header off a free kick. But Nealis headed in a George O’Malley set piece, beating the goalkeeper to the ball, to equalize at 2-2 in the 43rd minute.

The final three goals of the match were then scored in a furious 4:23 late in the game.

The Orange looked to go ahead for good in the 83rd minute, but the Pride weren’t done yet, with Brown launching a cannon shot from about 30 yards in the 87th minute to again bring Hofstra even with time ticking down. But Syracuse would take the lead one final time, with Buchanan netting the game-winner just over a minute later.

Brown’s multi-goal performance is the second of his career. He scored twice at Northeastern in 2016.

Hofstra senior goalkeeper Alex Ashton made five saves, most of which were highlight-reel quality.

The Pride plays its final contest in a five-game season-opening road swing at Seton Hall University Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.