The Hofstra Men's Soccer team opens its 2005 season when it travels to take on local rival Stony Brook in a non-conference game on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Hofstra enters the new season looking to defend its 2004 Colonial Athletic Association championship and return to the NCAA Division I Tournament. A year ago, the Pride needed to win its final two regular season games just to qualify for the CAA Tournament, which it accomplished with a 2-1 win over #15 James Madison and a 2-0 win over Drexel.
Once in the postseason, the Pride proceeded to go on a magical run, winning all three CAA Tournament games on the road without allowing a goal. Hofstra defeated UNC Wilmington 2-0 in the opening round, then knocked off Virginia Commonwealth 1-0 in the semifinals on a goal from midfielder Jason Gates (Fort Collins, CO - pictured) to set up a championship game match-up with Old Dominion. A first-half goal from forward Michael Todd (Cleveland, England) stood up as the difference as the Pride captured the CAA title and earned the first NCAA Division I Tournament berth in its history.
Hofstra then moved on to defeat #21 Seton Hall 2-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, before finally seeing its run end with a loss at #7 Maryland in the second round. That loss snapped a six-game win streak in which five of the wins came against nationally-ranked teams.
The Pride returns an experienced team, which features 10 players who were regular starters a year ago. Hofstra did, however, lose much of its depth with the graduation of its six seniors from last season's squad and will need to rely on some new faces to replace that depth.
Todd will once again be the focal point of the Pride offense, after leading the way with eight goals and eight assists last year. Todd, who was a first-team All-CAA selection, played most of last season as a lone forward in a 4-5-1 alignment, yet handled the role exceptionally well.
Even if he stays in the lone forward role, Todd will be supported this season by some potentially high-scoring midfielders, including Gates and junior Constantinos Christoudias (Nicosoa, Cyprus), who each had five goals last season. Senior Matthew Telling (Rotherham, England), junior Arman Osooli (Commerce, MI) and sophomore Chris Cox (Nottingham, England) each have the capability of stepping up and supporting Todd in the goal-scoring department as well. Sophomore transfer Adrian Papaluca (Winston Hills, Australia) from Division II Southampton is expected to contribute in the midfield, along with freshmen Eric Schmidt (Massapequa, NY) and Ryan Symington (Grosse Pointe, MI).
Defensively, fourth-year starting goalkeeper Matthias Gumbrecht (Hemhofen, Germany) gives the Pride one of the most experienced netminders in the nation. Junior Gary Flood (Hauppauge, NY) has started the last two seasons at center back and should be the leader of the defensive unit, while senior Billy Chung (Succasunna, NJ) and junior Arnel Andrada (Staten Island, NY) will once again provide support on the outside. The Pride will need someone new to step up at the other center back position this season -- with sophomore Michael Pesce (Massapequa, NY) and freshman Corey Gudmundson (Dallas, TX) likely candidates to fill that role.
After facing Stony Brook, Hofstra moves on to play two more road games at Columbia on Sunday and at Saint Peter's on Wednesday before its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 10 against Marist at 7:30 p.m.
