Frigid temperatures could not lower the palpable energy at Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, as the top-seeded Hofstra University men’s soccer team clinched their third consecutive conference title. The 2-1 overtime win over the Monmouth University Hawks in the 2023 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship final in Hempstead, New York, was the Pride’s seventh CAA title in program history and the third in as many years.
“I think the fans had to be incredibly entertained with the game overall,” said Hofstra head coach Richard Nutall. “I’m just so proud of our boys, a little bit emotional to be honest. If you look at the whole season, I believe we deserved to win the championship. Great job, Monmouth.”
The win gives Hofstra the automatic qualification into the NCAA tournament.
Reigning CAA Player of the Year Eliot Goldthorp scored the winning goal for the Pride in the first half of overtime with a free kick sent directly to the left corner of the net. The junior wing-back netted his eighth goal of the season and ran straight to the sold-out crowd to celebrate with the home fans in attendance.
“A fantastic free kick,” Nuttall said. “[Eliot] is a special player, we know that.”
Hofstra spent the entire second half of overtime playing back and defending their own net. Monmouth fired six shots in the final 10 minutes without any response, but the visitors weren’t able to break through due to efforts from goalkeeper Wessel Speel and the rest of the defense. In one instance, defender Jack O’Malley managed to clear the ball just before it was about to cross the line.
“It was like the Alamo for the last five or six minutes,” Nuttall said.
Hofstra initially took the lead in the 20th minute with a goal by striker Teddy Baker, his third of the season. The advantage lasted up until the final 10 minutes when Stefan Mason committed a foul inside the penalty area. Monmouth was awarded a spot-kick and a numerical advantage as Mason, one of the Pride’s starting captains, was shown his second yellow and sent off as a result. He was the only one to receive his marching orders in a game that included nine bookings.
Ben Zakowski buried his penalty into the top-left corner to get the visitors back to level terms. The Hawks used their newfound momentum and pressed the opposing goal for a majority of the time until Goldthorp sent the crowd into a frenzy. They outranked the hosts 23-7 in total shots and 6-3 in shots on goal.
“I’m so proud of the way we reacted,” Nuttall said. “We defended like demons. We got the go-ahead goal.”
Hofstra entered the night without Nico Oberrauch, one of their regular starters. The senior defender suffered an ACL injury mid-week and has been ruled out for the season. As a result, Shane Salmon received his third start of the year and helped shape the traditional back-four.
“[Salmon]’s a quality player,” Nuttall said. “He’s been with us for five years; he’s been there; he’s played in finals. He’s done that before, so from our point of view, we knew he’d do a great job. But sad for Nico, he’s out for the season with an ACL tear. We wanted to win the game for Nico, and we did.”
From two teams battling it out for a conference title to an ending that can only be described as cinematic, it was a night that the program and all its fans can look back and see as a classic.
“I’ll never, ever forget how we won today,” Nuttall said. “I’m happy for the three-peat, but I’m happier for the players and getting back to the NCAAs.”
Hofstra men’s soccer will make their eighth appearance in the NCAA Division I tournament next week. Dates and times will be determined in the selection show on Monday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein
