The Hofstra University men’s soccer team finished 2-2 with the Campbell University Fighting Camels in a Coastal Athletic Conference (CAA) affair at the Eakes Athletics Complex in Buies Creek, North Carolina, on Saturday, Sept. 16. The Pride are 0-0-2 in conference games and 4-1-2 overall.
There was late drama as midfielder Eliot Goldthorp found the equalizer for Hofstra in the final minute. A Teddy Baker cross into the six-yard box was turned home by Goldthorp, who scored both goals for his side. He leveled the scoring twice in the second half, his first arriving in the 59th minute with the assist being provided by Albert Kang. The CAA Preseason Player of the Year has found his form with three goals in his previous two appearances.
Life was injected early into the second half, as Campbell took the lead through defender Teva Lossec in the 49th minute. Forward Marco Wright and midfielder Adam Yousfi assisted Lossec as he found the top-right corner. Their initial lead only lasted 10 minutes, but the Fighting Camels managed to quickly restore their advantage as Tai-Reece Chisholm pushed his side in front. Alexy Issa Alban managed to record an assist less than two minutes after being subbed on.
Hofstra outranked Campbell 14-11 in total shots and 8-4 in shots-on-goal. Like their win over the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers, both goals arrived in the second half. Only this time, the backline failed to return the favor. Goalkeeper Wessel Speel only made one save as he conceded twice for only the second time in the first seven matches.
Eoin Farrell returned to the lineup following a one-game suspension after he was sent off late against the Stony Brook University Seawolves. Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall expressed his desire to have Farrell back on the pitch, and it showed as he played the longest out of any substitute, totaling 46 minutes.
Campbell are no strangers to ties this early in the season, as they had to settle for their fourth draw despite leading twice in the second half. Goalkeeper Samy Slimi made six saves, essentially saving a result for the CAA debutants. The Pride, meanwhile, have two ties to their record, both within conference play. It’s a bit of a slow start in the CAA for the reigning back-to-back champions.
Failing to defeat the Fighting Camels in their first ever meeting and dropping a result in each of their first two conference games may feel substandard for the Pride. However, the scenes of Goldthorp clearing the bench in celebrations in a last-minute response while silencing the Campbell crowd will give Nuttall something to be proud of, as they march towards the bulk of the season.
The Pride’s next match is an away fixture against the Long Island University (LIU) Sharks on Tuesday, Sept. 19. Kickoff from LIU Soccer Park is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman
