By Steven Wolff -- STAFF WRITER
The 2015 regular season has come to a close and the No. 24 Hofstra Pride men’s soccer team fell 2-0 to the James Madison Dukes on their home field in Virginia on Halloween night.
Dukes’ senior midfielder Eric Schmidt opened up the scoring with a rebound goal in the seventh minute. That was all they needed as the Pride failed to score for the fifth time this season.
Then almost at the midway point of the first half, fellow midfielder Connor Coward doubled their lead in the 22nd minute on the dot.
Pride goalie Patric Pray recorded five saves in the second half to keep them in the game.
Trying to mount a comeback, Hofstra dominated the corner kick with a 12-3 advantage, but could not get one past the Dukes’ defense.
The James Madison goalkeeper Kyle Morton had seven saves on the night to keep the Pride off the scoreboard.
Four Hofstra players salvaged two shots in the contest including sophomore midfielder Danny Elliot, sophomore Andreas Losifides, junior Harry Hawkins and junior Mario Ruiz off the bench.
It was the first time the two schools faced each other since JMU ousted the Pride in the 2014 conference tournament quarterfinals on Hofstra’s home field.
The Pride started this season on a four-game winning streak, but went 7-6 for the rest of the season before facing JMU.
Pride midfielder Joseph Holland led the team on the year with six goals and 20 points overall, while midfielder Meshack Eshun Addy compiled six goals and 15 points.
Nonetheless, Pray delivered this season, averaging a little over a goal per game and posted six shutouts.
The Pride has had a sputtering offense all year, and when they needed Pray to step up and make saves, he did so, and it has paid off for the Pride.
Hofstra finished the 2015 season with an 11-7 record and 6-2 in conference play as well as obtained home-field advantage for the CAA tournament.
The Pride still maintained the number one seed, and will have a bye in the quarterfinal round, hosting the semifinal and championship rounds at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
Having home-field advantage will be beneficial since Hofstra has played better at home recording a 6-1 record, while registering a 5-6 record on the road.
The 13 days of rest may also bode well since Hofstra fell in four of their last five games in the regular season – the Pride was 0-3 on the road and 1-1 during that stretch.
The Pride will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between the James Madison Dukes and the Charleston Cougars on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.