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Hofstra’s men’s soccer team shows continued dominance in shortened season
(Photo: Hofstra Athletics)

Hofstra’s men’s soccer team shows continued dominance in shortened season

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (BVM) — The Hofstra men’s soccer team went above and beyond expectations this season with a berth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship game for the ninth consecutive year. 

The Pride won the CAA North Division and advanced to the playoffs with a 2-0-2 record in a COVID-shortened season after previously playing 18 games in 2019. Their performance resulted in the team being voted fourth best out of all CAA teams, as determined by the nine CAA head coaches. 

The Pride followed an impressive regular season with a 4-2 win in the CAA Semifinals against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, where star player Matthew Vowinkel scored his 28th career goal, moving him to sixth on Hofstra’s all-time goal list. 

With this win, the Pride made its ninth consecutive CAA Championship game against the James Madison Dukes. For the third time in four years, the winner of the Hofstra vs. James Madison matchup was decided by penalty kicks after the game went into overtime, with similar results coming in the 2018 title game and 2019 CAA Semifinals. The Dukes outlasted the Pride to win their third consecutive CAA Championship and the Pride finished with a 5-2-3 record for the season. 

The success of the Pride’s season was in part due to the outstanding performances of their senior players. Matthew Vowinkel, the team’s senior forward, made First Team All-CAA for the second straight year after he was second in the league in assists and third in goals and points. He was also named to the 2020-21 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men’s Scholar All-Region team and received a Player of Distinction Award from United Soccer Coaches along with senior defender and co-captain, George O’Malley.

Ryan Carmichael and Wessel Speel, both freshmen players, also contributed to the team’s success. Carmichael, who plays both as both a forward and a defender on the team, played in all 10 games and scored four goals on 19 shots. With the standout season, Carmichael nominated for Male Rookie of the Year at the HOFSPYs. Speel, who played as a rookie goalkeeper, earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors this season alongside his freshman counterpart. 

The team’s success was also in part to the direction and leadership of acclaimed head coach, Richard Nuttall. The long-time coach has headed Hofstra’s soccer program for the past 32 seasons and sits atop the school’s record book with a 285-243-72 record. The Pride have won four CAA Championships and made it to the CAA Tournament in nine out of the past 10 seasons under his mentorship.