By Max Sass, Sports Editor
The Hofstra men's soccer team played to a scoreless draw with Colonial Athletic Association no. 1 and no. 17 in the nation William & Mary. The Pride remains in the top four of the CAA and controls its own destiny for a spot in the four–team CAA Tournament with just one game to go at James Madison.
The Pride had to deal with injuries on defense when senior defender and captain Erik Rengifo was removed from the game with a hamstring injury just moments into the second half.
Even before the game, freshman goalkeeper Roberto Pelligrini was ruled out with a groin injury and junior Greg Cumpstone started in his place. Cumpstone was the starter at the beginning of the season and recorded his sixteenth career shutout, second on the all-time Hofstra list, against William and Mary.
Cumpstone made two aggressive plays in the game that almost cost the Pride. In the first half Cumpstone left his goalline to punch away a free kick, but the ball bounced right to a William & Mary forward. With Cumpstone out of position, freshman defender Shaun Foster was forced to clear the ball off the line and preserve the shutout.
Later in the game, off a Hofstra turnover, Nathaniel Baako of William and Mary dribbled in on Cumpstone. Baako sidestepped a charging Cumpstone at the top of the 18 yard box, but was pushed far enough off to the right where Pride sophomore Stephan Barea had enough time to keep Baako away from an open net.
Cumpstone did have two saves in the game, including one diving save to deflect away an otherwise certain goal.
Hofstra matched William & Mary for 110 minutes (including two overtimes) on the scoreboard, but head coach Richard Nuttall felt his team got the better of its opponent.
"After the first 20-25 [minutes] I thought we were the better side going forward," Nuttall said. "I actually felt secure at the back. I wasn't that nervous. I thought if anybody was going to pinch it, we were."
Nuttall specifically named Foster, Cumpstone, senior midfieler Steven Ehrics and sophomore defender AJ Laza but then quickly added that everyone played well.
"I could go through the whole team and say well done, well done, well done," Nuttall said.
The Pride travel to James Madison on Saturday to try to secure its place in the postseason. "It's everything," Nuttall said. "It's the last game of the season and maybe both teams are hoping its going to be their passport to the playoffs."