The wait is over for the Hofstra men’s soccer team. After five years of heartbreak, the Pride won the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship on Sunday, Nov. 14. The Pride took down the Elon University Phoenix 3-2 behind a brace from Matthew Vowinkel.
With this win, the Pride is on to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament for the first time since 2015, and for the fifth time in program history.
The Pride has also extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games, and set a program record with their 16th win of the season, which topped a record going back to 1968.
It didn’t start out pretty for the Pride, as they gave up a goal to Elon just 5:44 in to the game. Vemund Hole Vik headed a corner kick from Jannik Videbaek past Wessel Speel. Hofstra had four shots on goal in the first half but could not capitalize.
“We really have to give a lot of credit to Elon,” said Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall. “They thought how they were going to play against us. They got the goal off a set piece. Then they defended valiantly, we should’ve gotten one or two in the first half, we didn’t.”
The second half is where Hofstra shined. At the 52:30 mark, Vowinkel headed in a cross ripped in from the near side by Ryan Carmichael to even the score at one. The tie didn’t last long, as Stefan Mason took a free kick from just to the right of the 18-yard box that found its way to the back of the net.
“I have to give a lot of credit to my coach Nuttall,” Mason said. “At halftime, he mentioned a little tactic about just stopping just before you take the free kick, and then going back and then taking it. This is just so it adjusts their back line and their goalkeeper. If I’m being honest, I was aiming for the back area, whether that’s the back post for a header or in the goal.”
Vowinkel sealed the deal in the 72nd minute, as Francesco Perinelli sent a pass to Storm Strongin, who in turn dribbled into the box before passing it off to Vowinkel. This was Vowinkel’s second of the match, as well as his fourth goal of the tournament. This was also his second straight game with a brace.
“For me, he’s been hot all season, it’s just that a lot more people are marking him and worrying about him,” Nuttall said. “The attention he gets leaves room for your Carmichaels, your [Hendrik] Hebbekers, your Strongins and the midfielders going forward. His first header was professional level attacking the ball.”
Elon’s Jack Edwards scored one more to make things interesting with 11 minutes to go, but that was all the damage that the Phoenix could do.
As the final seconds ticked, and as the final whistle blew, Vowinkel collapsed on the pitch in jubilation.
“When I fell to the ground, I let out five years of pure enjoyment,” Vowinkel said. “It just felt really good to lay there, take it all in and breathe the fresh air.”
Vowinkel was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Tournament. Vowinkel, Mason, Perinelli and Roc Carles were all named to the All-Tournament team.
The Pride will host the opening round of the NCAA Championship as Hofstra faces Lipscomb University on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7:00 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Alexis Friedman/The Hofstra Chronicle
