Freshman Rob Youhill (Harrogate, England) scored a goal and had a defensive save in regulation, and junior goalkeeper Tom Johansen (Northport, NY - pictured) saved three of five penalty kicks in the shootout, as the Hofstra Men's Soccer team won its third straight CAA championship with a 3-2 win on penalty kicks after playing to a 1-1 tie with George Mason in the title game on Sunday afternoon at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.
The tie moves the Pride's record to 11-5-3 on the year, as it earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament when the field is announced on Monday. Hofstra also moved to an unbeaten 6-0-1 all-time record in Colonial Athletic Association Tournament play, after earning its first title in 2004 in its first tournament appearance. Hofstra is now one of only three schools in the country with three straight conference championships in men's soccer, joining Western Illinois and New Mexico.
Hofstra held a 1-0 lead until the final 10 minutes, when George Mason found the equalizer. Chris Carroll got to a failed Pride clearance near the left corner and dribbled along the end line, before chipping a cross three yards in front of the far post. Johansen came out to make a play on the ball, but Francis McCardle got his head on it just before Johansen arrived, tucking a shot inside the right post to knot the score with just 6:57 to play.
Hofstra went first during penalty kicks, but missed its first two to fall into a quick 1-0 hole. However, Johansen saved the next two to pull the Pride even at 1-1 after three rounds, with senior forward Michael Todd (Cleveland, England) converting the first one for Hofstra. Senior midfielder Arman Osooli (Commerce, MI) then connected to give Hofstra a 2-1 lead, but George Mason's Fabien Lewis rattled one off the left post and in to tie the score 2-2. Freshman back Richard Martinez (Highland, NY) stepped up in the final round and buried his kick to give Hofstra a 3-2 edge, and George Mason's Josh Fleming's attempted to go to the upper-left corner, but Johansen tipped it off the bar with a diving save to give the Pride the title in dramatic fashion.
In regulation, Youhill gave Hofstra a 1-0 lead with a great individual effort in the 29th minute. He gathered a loose ball in 40 yards from goal on the right side of the field, and started to make a run towards the sideline. He instead cut back into the middle of the field, outrunning a George Mason midfielder. The Patriot defenders retreated to cover Hofstra runners, and Youhill dribbled into the vacated space outside the penalty area and cranked a 22-yard shot from straightaway directly into side netting inside the left post for his second goal of the season at the 28:47 mark.
Hofstra had several quality chances to take a 2-0 lead in the latter stages of the first half, but was unable to capitalize. Junior midfielder Adrian Papaluca had the best chance when his header from inside the six-yard box hit off the near post. Papaluca also had an open 15-yarder off a pass from Youhill that was saved by diving George Mason goalkeeper Sean Kelley.
Youhill helped keep the score 1-0 when he came up with a defensive save in the 75th minute. Johansen came out to try to punch a crossing pass away, but the ball was flicked past him to the far post, where Fleming one-timed a half-volley from 15 yards. Youhill, though, covered for Johansen and was able to chest the ball down to keep it out of the net. McCardle got to the rebound from 10 yards, but could only manage to float a soft shot towards goal which Johansen saved easily after getting back into position. Johansen also came up with a big save earlier in the second half on a shot from Dan Ames in the 65th minute, tipping Ames' 15-yard header over the crossbar.
Hofstra controlled the first half, outshooting George Mason 14-4, but the Patriots regrouped and had a 17-5 shot advantage in the second half as the Pride attempted to protect its lead. George Mason then controlled the first overtime session, outshooting Hofstra 5-0, but the Pride played better in the second extra session, holding a 3-0 edge to pull within 26-22 overall for the contest. Johansen finished with seven saves for Hofstra, while Kelley had five saves for the Patriots.
Senior forward Michael Todd (Cleveland, England), who had a goal and two assists in the Pride's 4-2 semifinal win over Old Dominion on Friday, was named the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player for the second time in his career, after also winning in 2004. Named to the All-Tournament team for Hofstra were Todd, Johansen, sophomore defender Corey Gudmundson (Dallas, TX), and senior midfielder Constantinos Christoudias (Nicosia, Cyprus)
The NCAA Selection Show will take place on Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPNews.
