Daniel Massey's overtime goal lifts Hofstra to NCAA Tournament first-round victory
Hofstra's Daniel Massey (left) celebrates hitting winning goal with Mario Ruiz, who scored 1st Hofstra goal as Hofstra wins in OT against Lehigh during the first round in the NCAA men's soccer tournament where Hofstra defeated Lehigh 2-1 in OT at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York on Nov. 19, 2015. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Funny game, this soccer.
Two Hofstra players who had totaled one goal and 10 shots this season entering Thursday night's NCAA Tournament first-round game turned out to be the offensive heroes in the Pride's dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Lehigh.
Junior midfielder Mario Ruiz scored his first collegiate goal and freshman forward Daniel Massey struck for his second goal with 54 seconds remaining in the first overtime to lift the Pride in the driving rain at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
"It was an incredible game," said Hofstra coach Richard Nuttall, whose Pride (14-7-0) will play at third-seeded Georgetown (15-2-2) Saturday. "I thought we deserved the game in the end with the second half, the pressure we put on them."
The weather put plenty of pressure on both teams as the rain went sideways with wind gusts of more than 30 mph.
"It was horrible, one of the worst games, condition-wise, that I played here," Ruiz said. "It was tough to get good control of the ball with such wind. I think we dealt with it well."
Especially in the second half with Hofstra chasing a 1-0 halftime deficit. The hosts pressured Lehigh for virtually the entire second half.
The Pride's persistence paid off after Rory Murphy's corner kick was cleared out of the box. The ball went to Ruiz, who powered a 28-yard shot to the lower left corner past goalkeeper Joe Bogan for his first collegiate goal and a 1-1 tie.
"I think I picked a good time to put it into the back of the net," Ruiz said. "I saw the defender come to me. I had to make a decision to let the ball bounce or just hit it. I hit it. Then I see the players come running to me. I see the ball in the back of the net."
With time running out in the first OT, Andreas Iosifides crossed the ball from the right side and Massey headed it home for the winner.
"Unreal. Unreal feeling, especially as a freshman to come in and score in overtime," Massey said. "I can't put into words how just happy [I am], how good it was."
Hofstra found itself down after a misplay by defender Harri Hawkins inside the penalty area led to the goal by Lehigh (13-6-3). Mark Forrest fired a 12-yard shot to the lower right corner past Patric Pray at 20:22.
