The Hofstra men’s soccer team has faced many obstacles this season. Despite the setback from having to quarantine and cope with fewer games and practices, they have come out ahead with a season stronger than ever, currently logging three wins, two losses and two ties.
“I think that we’ve come back with more passion to be honest…because we never know what’s going to happen, so, everyday, just go on the field and give your best,” said Aman Manghi.
Last year the team was unable to play a regular season because of the severity of the coronavirus pandemic. “Never tried having such a long period where we haven’t been playing matches as 2020,” said Hogler Maaloe.
Head men’s soccer coach Richard Nuttall shared that his coaching methods haven’t changed much, but it has been more stressful to have to worry about the “effects of COVID or if you’re just doing the right thing.” The nature of his preparation for games has changed.
“I think your rationale as a coach is changing in your prep, it has nothing to do with tactical or the type of players, it’s more to do with ‘are we doing the right protocols, that we’ve set everything up,’” Nuttall said.
“At the start of the pandemic we had to have masks on and we weren’t allowed to do any physical contact training, so we were just doing running,” said midfielder Stefan Mason.
With the progression of their season, the team has had to have more intense and frequent practices, compared to ones they had early on in the pandemic. Now, they can have full practices without masks, which mimic matches where neither team on the field wears masks while playing.
“We’re quite lucky that during our practices we can take our masks off and we can play,” said Luca Tausch. “The university made an incredible effort and then put all the money into us having the chance to play, so these are setbacks you just have to be open for.”
Away games have changed the most, according to Manghi. “For example, the first game was at Albany so the team had to travel like three hours before the game, change in the bus, get out on the field, play, then back in,” he said.
Prior to the pandemic the team was less rushed in getting to the away location, could change there and shower before heading back to Hofstra.
On Feb. 16, 2021, the team began their 10-day quarantine after a positive test result of one of the players. Maaloe was going in for shoulder surgery after dislocating it too many times and part of the pre-surgical examination includes testing for COVID-19. He tested positive while being asymptomatic and “feeling perfect.” Maaloe has received his surgery and it was successful.
“We did Zoom gym sessions with our strength and conditioning coach throughout the 10 days,” said Mason. These gym sessions were a bright point of the quarantine for the team and provided them with a way to remain active while trying to isolate themselves.
The quarantine ended on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, “on Sunday, we had the first match already, so we knew we had to be ready,” freshman goalkeeper Wessel Speel said. The team was indeed ready as they won that match against Stony Brook 4-1.
The men’s soccer team has been giving their all during this unprecedented season, averaging two goals per game. Their season continues with an upcoming game against Northeastern University and hopefully continuing on to the Colonial Athletic Association tournament later in April.
Photo Courtesy of Alexis Friedman
