Hempstead, N.Y. – (August 29, 2019) – Hofstra's Hendrik Hebbeker netted the lone goal of the game on a penalty kick, while Alex Ashton recorded six saves, as the Pride recorded a 1-0 win over the Fordham Rams, in the men's soccer opener for both squads at Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y.
The lone goal came on a penalty kick by Henrik Hebbeker in the tenth minute, following a foul called on Fordham's
Jack Sluys in the box.
The Rams battled hard to find the equalizer, throwing all kinds of chances at Hofstra goalkeeper Alex Ashton. In the 36
th minute,
Sameer Fathazada connected on a point blank header from 10 yards that Ashton was able to grab, while in the 38
th minute,
Tomer Zloczower took a free kick from 20 yards following a Hofstra yellow card that just glanced over the crossbar.
The score remained a 1-0 in the second half, as Hofstra pressed the attack but Fordham goalkeeper
Konstantin Weis made a couple of key stops in the 60
th and 61
st minute to keep it a one-goal game.
Fathazada had another chance to tie the game in the 69
th minute, as his shot got by Ashton, but was cleared out by a Hofstra defender before reaching the goal.
The Rams kept the pressure on with
Filippo Ricupati glancing a header off the crossbar in the 75
th minute, while
Luke McNamara had a shot in the 81
st minute that was stopped by Ashton.
In the end, Ashton kept the Rams off the scoresheet, making a total of seven saves for the shutout. Fordham ended the game with a 14-13 shot edge with Fathazada having a team-high six shots. Weis finished the match with three saves for Fordham.
The Fordham men's soccer team will next be in action on Monday, September 2
nd, when the Rams play at NJIT, beginning at 7:00 PM.
