The Hofstra University men’s soccer team will defend their championship title against the Monmouth University Hawks in the 2023 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) men’s soccer championship finals at Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, New York, on Sunday, Nov. 11.

Hofstra is one win away from clinching the conference crown for a third consecutive year after defeating the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens on Sunday, Nov. 5, courtesy of two goals from Ryan Carmichael and one each from Shane Salmon and Albert Kang.

Head coach Richard Nuttall’s side, which has not lost a home match so far this year, is led in the attack by forward Carmichael and winger Eliot Goldthorp. Both players, along with defender Pierce Infuso, were named to the All-CAA First Team on Wednesday, Nov. 1, while Goldthorp became the second consecutive Hofstra player to be named CAA Player of the Year. Carmichael and Goldthorp have combined for 19 goals and 54 accumulated points heading into the championship. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Wessel Speel tied his career-high of eight shutouts in a season and was named to the All-CAA Second Team.

Monmouth enters the title match with a 8-3-6 overall record and 5-1-2 in league play. In the previous round, they took the sixth-seeded Elon Phoenix to penalty kicks, where the Hawks triumphed 4-2 after maintaining a scoreless draw through regulation and double overtime.

Ben Zakowski leads the Monmouth offense with 11 goals this season and Erik Reis leads the teams’ assist column with four. Between the pipes, the Hawks go to Eryk Dymora, who boasts a .803 save percentage and six shutouts in the regular season. A player to keep an eye out for is Arturo McConnochie, who won CAA Rookie of the Week in back-to-back weeks in September for his efforts on the offensive third of the pitch. He is the squad’s second-highest scorer with three goals and one assist.

Kickoff for the CAA finals at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein/Hofstra Athletics