The loss of a few big-name players doesn’t have Hofstra men’s soccer head coach Richard Nuttall worried for the team’s 2019 campaign. The veteran core with more experienced underclassman on the roster could add up to make Hofstra a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) threat once again.
“The returning players have gained experience,” Nuttall said. “That, with who we’ve got coming in – I think we’ll be okay this year.”
Losing players is a constant, Nuttall said, but it’s about how a team responds to those loses.
One of the major losses was defenseman Sean Nealis, who Nuttall pegged as last year’s MVP.
“Everyone would’ve agreed that [the MVP] was [Nealis],” Nuttall said. “His leadership was immense. On the field he’s effective. People gain confidence from him.”
Another major loss for the program is midfielder Luke Brown, who transferred to the University of Maryland – the reigning national champions – this offseason.
“We’re happy to see him go on to that level and we’re happy for him,” Nuttall said. “He’s a great player and hopefully can go on to play in the pros. He’s got that potential.”
The 2018 season was a success for the Pride program, reaching the CAA finals but falling to James Madison University (JMU) in penalty kicks. The Pride did not receive an at-large bid to the national tournament.
“From my point of view, we had a crew that was very difficult to beat and that showed in the playoffs,” Nuttall said.
But, of course, an appearance in the finals is not enough for the team.
“As always, we want more,” Nuttall said. “We want to win it. We want to go to the NCAAs.”
Last year was a season of defense for the Pride. Hofstra ranked in the top three in the CAA in goals-against average (0.95), saves (77) and shutouts (11). The defense was led by Nealis, but Nuttall says the team can fill that hole in the defense and continue to hold strong on the back line.
“As a head coach, you get used to losing people,” Nuttall said. “You just continue managing the players and moving forward.”
“We’ve got some great players that can be successful,” he added. “We’re looking forward to the season.”
Nuttall listed juniors George O’Malley and Matthew Vowinkel as well as sophomore Luca Tausch as three players that he’s expecting to step up and lead the team to another successful season.
In 2018, O’Malley led the team in minutes and put up nine shots on goal, two of which found the back of the net. He also picked up an assist.
Vowinkel scored the most goals on the team last season with eight. Vowinkel and O’Malley were the only two players to start all 21 games for the Pride last season.
Tausch ended his freshman campaign with a goal and six shots on goal.
Nuttall says these three players can combine to make a diverse roster all across the pitch.
“I’d like to say we’ll be an attacking team … yet retain a sense of being an incredibly strong team defensively, and then we’ll outwork as many opponents as possible,” Nuttall said.
The CAA was represented by two teams in last year’s NCAA tournament, JMU and UNC-Wilmington, and Nuttall recognizes the caliber of players, coaches and teams in the conference.
“It’s an absolute quality conference,” he said. “Every game … you could lose. From top to bottom there are good coaches. If you’re not on your best form every game, you’re going to be beat.”
Hofstra’s CAA schedule begins on Friday, Sept. 6, in what will be a rematch of last year’s CAA title game when the Pride visit JMU.
But the Pride have two games before then, and Nuttall says the team is focused on the task ahead.
“We’re just looking forward to the first game of the year,” he said. “That’s all we’re looking forward to. And once we play [Fordham University] we’ll look forward to the next game.”
The Pride open their season against the Fordham Rams on Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Image courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
