Men's Soccer Edged at Hofstra, 2-1

Wednesday, October 22

Hempstead, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Drexel University

5-8-3, 1-4-1CAA

Hofstra

9-4-2, 4-1CAA

Drexel

Hofstra

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

10/22/2014 8:50:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The Drexel men's soccer team dropped a heartbreaker at Hofstra on Wednesday night, falling 2-1 after a goal late in the 88th minute on a penalty kick put the host Pride on top. John Grosh scored for the Dragons, nailing a penalty kick of his own in the 43rd minute that, at the time, evened the score at 1-1. Hofstra senior Maid Memic scored both the Pride's goals, extending his goal-scoring streak to six matches.

The loss drops the Dragons to 1-4-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play with two games remaining. Drexel came into the evening two points back of the sixth and final playoff spot. Hofstra, which came into the night tied for third, improves to 4-1-0 in league action.

The Pride got the scoring started in the 36th minute when Memic dented the scoreboard for his eighth goal of the season. He was assisted by Joseph Holland, who sent a pass straight up the middle to Memic. The senior controlled it and fired it past Drexel goalkeeper Tyler Afflerbach. For Holland, it was the CAA-leading ninth assist of the season.

Drexel nearly knotted things up five minutes later. Freshman Erik Alexandersson, who scored the game-winner a week earlier in the Dragons' double overtime win over James Madison, ripped a shot in on net, but Hofstra defender Marius Flateboe was able to defend the goalline and poke it away, a defensive save that kept Drexel off the scoreboard.

The Dragons would take advantage of their next opportunity. A foul in the box with 2:31 remaining in the first half allowed Drexel a penalty kick opportunity. Up stepped senior midfielder John Grosh, who calmly drilled his chance to pull the Dragons back even.

The score remained tied at one despite seven shots in a 12-minute span early in the second half for Hofstra. In all, they would outshoot Drexel 10-1 in the second half as they peppered the Dragons' defensive side. The defense stood tall, however, allowing just two of those shots through to Afflerbach. He made both saves, his only two of the evening.

One of those saves came with 2:41 remaining in regulation, but Afflerbach was unable to control the ball off Rory Murphy's shot and it went out of bounds, leading to a Hofstra corner kick. The ball was inserted and, although the Pride was not able to get a shot off the corner, they did force Drexel to commit a foul on the play. That earned the Pride a penalty kick, taken by Memic with 2:04 remaining. He converted, and the Pride held on for the 2-1 victory.

Drexel will have a week-long break before starting a regular-season ending two-game homestand next Wednesday. The Dragons will face Delaware in that contest, followed on Saturday by a home matchup with UNCW. The games kick off at 7:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.