By By Max Sass, Assistant Sports Editor
Junior forward Demont Mitchell was certainly the man of the match in a rain soaked game in Atlanta against Georgia State. Mitchell slammed home two goals in the Pride’s conference opener. Mitchell and the rest of the Pride made the most of their time in a game that was twice delayed thanks to lightning and was eventually called after 75 minutes.
The Pride’s record stands at three wins against four losses now, with a one win and zero loss record in Colonial Athletic Association play. The two to nothing win over the Panthers marks the first time the Pride have opened conference play with a victory since joining the CAA in 2002.
Through 44 minutes the Pride and the Panthers were scoreless. Mitchell, returning from an arm injury, broke the scoreless deadlock with less than one minute to play in the half. Demont described his first goal of the season, “Jamal Neptune crossed the ball into the box where Steven Erichs then battled to win a header, which he hit down to me. This was where I took one touch on the ball inside the box to control it and then hit my shot into the top corner for the first goal.”
Mitchell’s second goal came in the 65th minute. He explains, “Jamal Neptune shimmied (beat) a player in the middle of the field and then played me in towards the goal with a through ball. The defender grabbed me and fouled me as I entered the box and I was awarded a penalty shot, which I shot into the right corner.”
Demont credited senior defender and captain Jamal Neptune with help creating the opportunities and senior center back and fellow captain Rich Martinez agreed that many of the offensive breakouts started from the back. “Our backs did really well stepping around our men, which resulted in us winning the ball in the middle of the field most of the time”, said Martinez. “After the ball was won, our midfielders and forwards did a great job of keeping the ball moving from one man to the next.”
Coach Richard Nuttall called the game, “A fundamentally sound win, very professional, we did a good job.”
The Pride hope to carry the momentum into their home opener against Virginia Commonwealth University. The first game in Hempstead all season will be played
Saturday, October 3rd at 7 PM. “VCU has a great set of individuals and have a great team”, Coach Nuttall said. He felt home field advantage was a nice treat the Pride would enjoy, saying, “We have been very successful on our field, we know the roll and the bounce of the ball and have been very comfortable.”
“We feel confident, but not cocky and over confident”, Nuttall said, “It’s an ‘our house’ type of thing.” Nuttall hopes his confidence will spread to the student body, which Nuttall hopes will turn out in numbers to support his team. “Come enjoy a great game of soccer between two good teams at a great facility”, Nuttall said, “Come out and support your Hofstra Pride.”
