KINGSTON, R.I. – Matthew Vowinkel and Jason Ramirez scored first-half goals and the Hofstra Universitiy defense made them stand up en route a 2-0 victory over the University of Rhode Island at the URI Soccer Complex in the season opener for both teams Thursday night.
Hofstra is 11-5-4 in its last 20 season openers.
Hofstra (1-0) got on the board nine minutes in as Vowinkel headed home a cross from Storm Strongin following a corner kick.
Vowinkel has 30 goals and is tied for fifth place all-time at Hofstra with Maid Memic (2011-14) and his 67 career points tie him for eighth place all-time with Patrick Geraghty (1998-01). Strongin recorded his 16th career assist and is tied for eighth place with Alan Bodenstein (1982-85) and Constantinos Christoudias (2004-06) on the Pride’s all-time list.
Ramirez doubled the Hofstra lead at 31:10 as he knocked in a pass across the box from Ryan Carmichael, his first career assist.
The Pride controlled play in the opening 45 minutes, holding an 8-5 advantage in shots, a 4-0 edge in shots on goal, and a 4-1 margin in corner kicks.
The Rams (0-1) put pressure on the Pride in the second half, but Hofstra would not yield. Rhode Island had seven-second half shots and took three corner kicks but Hofstra keeper Wessel Speel backed up an outstanding defensive effort with three saves in the half.
Goalkeeper Stefan Schmidt made four saves for Rhode Island.
Hofstra returns to action at Stony Brook University in the Long island Rivalry game Monday at 6 p.m.
