The nearly undefeated Hofstra men’s soccer team hosted and won against a struggling New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Highlanders team by a final score of 4-0 on Saturday, Oct. 16 at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
It was a passionate game from the start as players collided and tripped left and right. Two total cautions resulted, with one going to each team, and a red card in the span of fifty-four seconds. The red card was given to New Jersey’s starting goalie Samuel Reisgys which saw his night come to an end two minutes and six seconds into the game. Sophomore goalie Caden Pellito took over in goal for the Highlanders.
After the dust settled, Ryan Carmichael opened the scoring on a redirection header from Hendrik Hebbeker. Almost twelve minutes later Carmichael potted another, this time from Storm Strongin, giving the Pride an early 2-0 lead.
With under five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Hebbeker was able to pick out sophomore midfielder Roc Carles, who scored the Pride’s third goal heading into the second quarter. Hebbeker leads the pride soccer team in assists with nine, including two in this game.
The home crowd only waited a little over five minutes into the second half to see Hofstra’s lead grow by four. Sophomore defender Pierce Infuso tallied his first collegiate goal assisted by Strongin. For the rest of the second half, the Pride successfully sat on their lead and maintained possession despite two fouls called on them and one called on visiting New Jersey.
Hofstra starting goalie Wessel Speel stopped one shot during the game to cruise to his fifth shutout of the season. He is tied for the Colonial Athletic Association lead in shutouts with Peter Wentzel of Elon University.
“We do a good job at getting it down and out, I don’t think we overemphasize possession but we do a good job at it, we keep the ball at the right times,” said Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall.
Pellito played in his first ever college game in goal, facing all eight shots on goal and made four saves. Pellito was tremendously helped by junior forward Alejandro Rabell, who blocked several crucial chances early in the game to help keep the game scoreless within the first six minutes of the game.
The Pride has gone nine games without losing while the Highlanders have lost their third in a row, getting shut out twice in the process. The Pride soccer team plays next on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. against Lafayette College at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein
