Matthew Vowinkel’s game-winning goal in the 50th minute sends top-seeded Hofstra men’s soccer back to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship game after a 2-1 win over the No. 4 Drexel University Dragons at Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 11.
Hofstra extends its unbeaten streak to 14 matches, posting a 15-1-2 overall record and tying the program record for wins in a season. Drexel’s season comes to an end at 8-8-1.
After Drexel controlled the opening 10 minutes of the match, Vowinkel started the scoring at the 12th minute mark off a pass from Ryan Carmichael.
Six minutes later the Dragons struck back after Kyle Tucker sent the ball to the middle of the box where Daniel Nesseler fired a rocket past the reach of Hofstra goalkeeper Wessel Speel. The Pride controlled the tempo in the final 25 minutes of the half rattling off several shots but not getting clean chances on goal.
Coming out of the half, tied at 1-1, Stefan Mason fired a ball from the far side finding the head of Vowinkel who sailed the ball into the net giving the Pride the deciding goal.
“[Vowinkel’s] somewhat of a legend. Time and time and time again he comes up and scores the important goals,” said Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall. “You put the ball in the box and he’ll attack it and have a good chance of scoring.”
The final 41 minutes consisted of Hofstra fending off attack after attack from the Dragons. Drexel finished with 14 shots in the game (six on goal), 10 of the shots coming in the second half. Hofstra had several looks on goal but turned down the chances, instead opting to pass the ball around. Hofstra had one shot on goal in the second half.
“The final 25 [minutes] I thought we were slightly the better team,” Nuttall said. “Could have had a couple [goals] but they were pressing too.”
Speel finished the game with five saves, three in the second half, while allowing one goal. Drexel goalkeeper Cameron Sanders recorded two saves while allowing two goals.
CAA Rookie of the Year Mason Tatafu had his work cut out for him as he was generally lined up against Drexel’s leading scorer, and CAA Player of the Year, Chris Donovan.
Hofstra had five corner kicks in the match compared to one by Drexel. The physicality was also a factor in the game with 26 fouls being called, 14 on Drexel and 12 on Hofstra. Drexel was also issued two yellow cards during the match while Hofstra got one.
“[Drexel] caused us some trouble at first,” Nuttall said. “We had to readjust our line and make a change with Joe [Wright] and reconfigure a little bit. Then I think we did a good job.”
“You got to be physical against us because if you don’t match our work ethic we can run over you a little bit,” Nuttall added.
For the third time in the past four seasons, Hofstra advances to the CAA Championship game. The Pride will face No. 3 Elon University, winners against No. 2 Northeastern University by a score of 1-0, on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
Elon earns its first appearance in the CAA Championship game. Hofstra won the regular season matchup on the road in Elon, 2-0. A win on Sunday gives Hofstra, ranked 13th in the nation, its first CAA title since 2015 and also an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament.
That’s how the minutes work in soccer, it’s weird.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
