By Jean Pierre Guzhnay – STAFF WRITER
The Hofstra Pride men’s soccer team recorded their 6th victory of the season following a wonderful long-range effort from Meshack Eshun Addy to give the Pride a 2-1 narrow victory over UNCW Saturday night at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
The Pride has now won their last two games after falling to American earlier this month. Following a historic 5 game-winning streak, The Pride has bounced back tallying an impressive 6-1 record.
The Pride started off the game containing the Seahawks in their own half, waiting for an opportunity to strike with both teams having trouble holding on to the ball.
It was Pride captain and center back Daniel Grundei who broke the deadlock in the 19th minute of the first half, as the player from Germany connected a deflection off Rory Murphy`s corner kick. It’s the first goal of the season for the senior who managed three game winning goals in 2014.
Afterwards, the Pride lamented a series of poor shots and was unable to double the advantage. UNCW`s Ben Fisher scored an incredible goal from 25 yards out after dribbling past Pride defenses, firing the equalizer in the 32nd minute, with a leaping Patric Pray unable to deny the Seahawks.
“We had a very poor first half” said head coach Richard Nutall.
“I told the team to keep pushing up and play more through passes to create more chances.”
Coach Nutall`s tactics paid off quickly in the second half. As the Pride kept pushing UNCW`s defenses and pressuring the opposition more, Seahawks defender Ryan Nally was sent off for pulling down Mani Walcott right outside the box in the 57th minute.
It didn’t take long after that for the Pride to take full numerical advantage, recording three shots in six minutes after the UNCW red card.
“It’s a wonderful victory our work ethic was tremendous especially 2nd half,” said Nuttall.
After having an impressive season so far with the Pride it was no surprise that Eshun Addy scored the winning goal. His goal in the 64th minute was world-class after volleying a crisp cross from Walcott and blasting it into the top left corner, giving the Pride the go-ahead score in front of an astonished audience of 1,011, whom many were wearing t-shirts honoring the late Joe Ferriso, a former Hofstra student that tragically passed away last January.
After the incredible goal, Coach Nutall still urged the Ghanaian player to keep improving, and believes he is a crucial player in the program.
“Once he has confidence he is incredibly dangerous. To be honest I want more from him, more defensively, and I think he is little bit one-dimensional at the moment. “
The Pride visits Dartmouth on Saturday at 5 p.m. to try and continue their stellar season.
