A Fordham and Hofstra player battles for the ball. (Photo courtesy of Fordham)
Eliot Goldthorp scored the game-winning goal with one second remaining as the No. 17 Hofstra University men won their season opener, 2-1, over Fordham University at Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. on Thursday night.
Hofstra is 17-0-3 in its last 20 games at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
The teams played a scoreless first half that saw the Rams outshoot the Pride, 5-2. Hofstra goalkeeper Wessel Speel had two clutch saves.
The Pride struck first as Mason Tatafu scored off a header on a corner kick driven into the box by Stefan Mason at 62:06. Hofstra held the lead until 83:59, when Fordham’s Ben Shepherd sent a shot into the upper left corner from a pass by Sebastian Fabrin for a 1-1 tie.
The game seemed destined for a draw before the Pride got one last push in the final 10 seconds. Nico Oberrauch carried the ball upfield and sent a pass to Ryan Carmichael in the box. The junior forward settled it with one touch and sent a short pass to a streaking Goldthorp, who buried the ball in the net for the game-winner in his Hofstra debut after transferring from Old Dominion.
Speel finished with three saves, while Fordham keeper Demetri Skoumbakis made three saves.
Hofstra is 12-5-2 all-time against Fordham and has won three consecutive games against the Rams.
Hofstra hosts the University of Rhode Island on Monday at 7 p.m.
Fordham welcomes No. 1616 Providence College on Sunday at 1 p.m.