By Doug Bonjour

Eight goals, 16 points, two game-winning goals. For those who have followed the Hofstra men’s soccer team over the past four seasons, those numbers remind fans of the offensive clinics that former Hofstra Forward Michael Todd used to place on opponents and the electricity that he brought to the Hofstra offense.

However, with Todd now playing professionally for the Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League, those impressive statistics are owned by a different member of the Pride.

Johannes Grahn, the freshman forward who is rising up the Colonial Athletic Conference rankings in scoring, is drawing increasingly more attention from opponents following another impressive weekend.

“The Swede” as nicknamed by teammates because he is a native of Tibro, Sweden, was again a main cog in the Pride’s success this weekend. In Hofstra’s wins over Georgia State and University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Grahn found the net four times. Along with helping the team win, Grahn’s performance earned him an individual honor: CAA Player of the Week.

“[Grahn’s] an awesome player. He’s a great finisher and a hard worker in practice,” says Richard Nuttall, head coach of the Hofstra men’s soccer team. Supporting Nuttall’s statement are Grahn’s statistics, as he has accounted for 66 percent of the team’s goals and 42 percent of the team’s overall points.

Grahn, who last year enjoyed similar success with Tibro AIK in Sweden, where he scored 10 goals and 15 assists, admitted to not having many expectations entering the season.

Grahn’s teammate, Ray Hassett, senior, midfielder, explained that Grahn “came in preaching to score a few goals,” and he has taken off ever since.

“Right off the bat he scored and he hasn’t stopped scoring since,” explained Hassett, who recorded an assist on Grahn’s final goal this weekend.

Although Grahn has been pleased with his development to date in his young career, he also knows that his teammates have helped him find success.

“It’s the whole team that plays good. I made a couple runs and the ball got to me,” said Grahn, following Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Georgia State.

Along with the youthful Grahn playing in the forward position, the team also has Freshman Forward John Alberda; a combination which leaves Nuttall with a smile when thinking about the future.

Swedish Native and Pride forward Johannes Grahn has proven to be the straw that stirs the drink for the Men’s soccer team (Kyle Martel)