HEMPSTEAD, NY -- The University of Delaware men’s lacrosse team stayed close to second ranked Hofstra University all night, but the Pride scored two quick goals to open the final quarter and moved on to down the Blue Hens 12-10 in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s lacrosse game Friday night at Shuart Stadium.

Delaware junior Adam Zuder-Havens (at right) had a big effort, scoring a career-high four goals and dishing out two assists for a career-high six-point night, but the Blue Hens (9-4, 1-3 CAA) dropped their second straight game, and their fourth straight in Hempstead, as Hofstra avenged a loss to Delaware in last year’s CAA semifinals. Dan Deckelbaum and Jordan Hall each added two goals, Vincent Giordano had a goal and an assist, and Cam Howard dished out two assists to extend his point-scoring streak to 19 straight games. Three of Delaware’s four losses this season have now been by four goals or less.

Hofstra, ranked No. 2 in this week’s United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association poll, improved to 11-2 (5-0 CAA) as the Pride ran their win streak to 11 games and clinched home field advantage for the upcoming CAA Tournament. The Pride were the highest ranked opponent for Delaware since the Hens fell to No. 2 Virginia in the 1999 NCAA quarterfinals.

Four different Hofstra players recorded double-figure goal totals as Tim Treubig scored three goals, John Keysor had two goals and an assist, Athan Iannucci scored twice and dished out an assist, and Chris Unterstein chipped in with two goals.

Hofstra’s Joe Mascaretti won 15 of 23 faceoffs from Delaware All-American Alex Smith, who entered the game leading the nation with a winning percentage of 72.8 percent.

Deckelbaum scored less than four minutes into the game to tie the score at 1-1, but Hofstra answered with three straight goals to take a 4-1 lead. However, the Hens answered with goals by Zuder-Havens and Hall to close the opening quarter and Zuder-Havens scored again five minutes into the second frame to knot the score at 4-4. But the Pride scored the final three goals of the half, including back to back scores by Iannucci, to take a 7-4 lead into halftime.

Another goal by Zuder-Havens three minutes into the second half cut the lead to 7-5, but Hofstra answered on goal by Chris Unterstein and Ryan Lucas to push the lead back to 9 5. Delaware then scored the final two goals of the third quarter - on tallies by Zuder Havens and Giordano - to narrow the gap to 9-7 heading into the final stanza.

But Hofstra got some breathing room as Treubig and Bill Peters scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter to up the lead back to four at 11-7 with 9:55 remaining. Delaware’s Hall scored with 5:32 left to make the score 11-8, but a goal by Keysor just over two minutes later extended the lead back to four at 12-8. Goals by Deckelbaum and Paul Rodriguez in the final three minutes cut the margin to two, but the Hens could never get closer.

Delaware, which entered the game unranked by the USILA but No. 18 by Inside Lacrosse, is the defending CAA regular season champion. The Hens will need to defeat Villanova and Robert Morris in its final two games to have the chance to earn one of four spots in the CAA Tournament.

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