No. 22 Hofstra men's soccer secures top seed for CAA championships

The No. 22 Hofstra University men’s soccer team concluded their regular season with a 2-1 win over the Northeastern University Huskies at Parsons Field in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The playoff-bound Pride finished with a 5-1-2 conference record, an 11-3-4 overall record and has won the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) regular season title for the second time in three years. They share that title with the Monmouth University Hawks, who also finished the regular season with 17 points.

The visitors got off to a fast start with two goals in the opening six minutes. Their first corner of the game resulted in their first goal of the game, as a cross swept in by midfielder Eliot Goldthorp was headed in by defender Pierce Infuso at the near side, his second goal of the season. Three minutes later, a long-ball by defender Stefan Mason was once again headed into the back of the net, this time by leading-scorer Ryan Carmichael. The senior striker leads the conference with 12 goals and 28 accumulated points.

Northeastern got themselves back in the game with a goal from forward Sebastian Restrepo in the 52nd minute. The Huskies had a free-kick opportunity in a dangerous area after a handball from Hofstra midfielder Joe Wright. Restrepo buried the kick into the far upper left corner where goalkeeper Wessel Speel was unable to reach. 

The home side fought back despite being sent down to 10 men earlier in the match after there was shouting and shoving following a play. Senior Federico Tellez was sent off as a result, which gifted the Pride a one-man advantage; however, the away side didn’t get away without caution as Goldthorp was given a yellow card for his part in the altercation with Tellez. He was substituted off shortly thereafter and didn’t return to the game. His appearance only lasted 20 minutes, but his two assists prior to his early substitution added a couple more points to his season total.

The Pride ultimately failed to find a third goal and had to fight in order to seal the deal on a win that clinched the top seed in the conference. They forced nine saves out of Northeastern goalkeeper Gregor Shaw, a season-high for the graduate student. Despite his and the defense’s best efforts to stay in the game amid a numerical disadvantage, the Huskies’ loss officially knocked them out of playoff contention, ending their season with a loss at home.

As for Hofstra, their story continues into the postseason. With their latest victory, they clinched a first-round bye and will play their next match in the CAA semifinals.

Due to their first-seed status, the Pride is guaranteed home-field advantage throughout the tournament. They’ll have to wait and see who their opponent will be, but the path towards a third consecutive conference ring can’t be any clearer. For the second time in three years, the conference championship will go through Hempstead.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Gil Talbot