The Hofstra Pride men’s soccer team came away with another win on Saturday, Sept. 25, at Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The Pride defeated the College of William & Mary Tribe 4-1 during an afternoon matinee in Hempstead. The win came on the back of big days from sophomore Ryan Carmichael, who got a hat-trick, and senior Hendrik Hebbeker, who scored a goal and assisted two of Carmichael’s goals.
With this win, Hofstra is now 7-1-0 overall and 2-1-0 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. The Tribe have now slipped to 2-3-0 this season with a CAA play record 0-2-0.
“When you look at the end result, 4-1, it looks like it’s been a comfortable game, but far from it,” said head coach Richard Nuttall.
William & Mary began this match with a goal from junior forward Diba Nwegbo right away. Right off kickoff, Tribe midfielder Alfredo Bozalongo sent a cross over to Nwegbo who shot a screamer past Hofstra goalkeeper Wessel Speel just twelve seconds into the game.
“We had a joke in the locker room. That’s the quickest goal ever scored on Hofstra soccer, in my time here,” Nuttall said.
That turned out to be the only goal of the day for the Tribe, as well as the only shot William & Mary had the entire first half. Hofstra didn’t stay behind for long. At 11:46 , Hebbeker sent a wonder strike past William & Mary goalie Connor Andrews. Storm Strongin got the assist.
Six minutes later, Hebbeker sent a long pass up the field to Carmichael who dribbled into the box and put a goal in the back of net near the far post to make it 2-1.
In the second half, at the 74:45 mark, Hebbeker passed the ball to Carmichael who dribbled through two Tribe defenders and scored to make it 3-1 Pride.
After getting the brace, it didn’t take the Northern Irishman to score his third. He got his third goal in less than a minute after scoring the second. After running down the end line, he cut it back and ripped a shot to get his trifecta.
The hat-trick was the first three-goal performance for the Pride since now-graduate student Matthew Vowinkel scored three on Nov. 2, 2019 against Northeastern University.
“It’s always nice to score,” Hebbeker said. “Part of what is expected of me, as well, is to produce goals, either by assisting or scoring. If I can continue to get on the scoresheet as well, I would be happy.”
The German senior is on fire as of late, scoring three goals and getting four assists in his last four games.
It’s back on the road for the Pride on Tuesday, Sept. 28, when they head to Sweeney Field in Philadelphia to take on St. Joseph’s University at 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman/The Hofstra Chronicle
