HOFSTRA ELIMINATED FROM CAA TOURNAMENT FIELD AFTER 0-0 TIE

11/8/2009 2:00:00 AM

Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Men's Soccer team played to a 0-0 tie with #21 UNC Wilmington on Saturday evening, but was eliminated from CAA Tournament contention as Old Dominion took the fourth and final seed with a win over George Mason.

Hofstra ends its season at 8-7-2 overall and 6-3-2 in the CAA. UNC Wilmington finished an undefeated regular season in CAA play at 8-0-3, while moving to 12-2-4 overall.

The Pride knew the results of the other games prior to the start of overtime, as Old Dominion scored in the 89th minute to defeat George Mason 1-0. That result, coupled with James Madison's 5-2 win over Towson, meant that a tie would do the Pride no good, as Old Dominion pulled even with Hofstra in the standings and had the tiebreaker (had Towson defeated James Madison, Hofstra would have had the tiebreaker).

Hofstra put heavy pressure on UNC Wilmington in the first overtime, as senior forward Rob Youhill (Harrogate, England) missed just wide on a leaping header, and junior forward Johannes Grahn (Tibro, Sweden) had two attempts from the top of the 18-yard box, but UNC Wilmington goalkeeper Brock Duckworth saved one and the other went wide.

In the second overtime, Hofstra sent everyone forward and had sophomore goalkeeper Greg Cumpstone (Haddam, CT) playing sweeper just over midfield, but the Pride was unable to get a quality chance in the second extra session, as its only shot was taken by freshman defender A.J. Laza (Coram, NY) from a tough angle near the left edge of the box. UNC Wilmington's Daniel Roberts and Kirk Hudgins each had shots from midfield at the empty net, but both went wide.

Freshman defender Thomas Bekas (Brentwood, NY) nearly gave Hofstra an early 1-0 lead in the game's first minutes. Duckworth came out to punch a crossing pass away, and Bekas ran onto it and cracked a 30-yard laser right on net heading under the crossbar. However, UNC Wilmington 6-4 defender Indy Smith was standing on the goal line with Duckworth out of net, and was able to head the ball away for a corner kick in the ninth minute.

Bekas then preserved the 0-0 tie late in regulation with a defensive save of his own, as Tyler Clare ran onto a pass 25 yards out and rifled a shot that was heading towards the side netting inside the right post, but Bekas stuck out his leg and cleared it away in the 87th minute.

Hofstra had a quality chance in the 82nd minute off a corner kick, as Grahn sent a hard 12-yard shot into the goalmouth area. Duckworth dove to block the first shot, and senior midfielder Bill Pinto (Audubon, NJ) got to the rebound but was unable to get a clean shot off as Duckworth was able to make his second save in succession.

The Pride finished with a 17-9 edge in shots and a 9-4 edge in corner kicks. Duckworth had five saves (and Smith had one) for UNC Wilmington, while Cumpstone had two saves (and Bekas had one) for Hofstra.

UNC Wilmington will be the top seed and host of the CAA Tournament next weekend, and will face Old Dominion in the first round. William & Mary and Northeastern will play in the other semifinal. Old Dominion barely qualified, as the Monarchs tied a game with VCU with four seconds left in regulation back on Oct. 20 and won 2-1 in overtime. Had VCU won that contest, the Pride would have clinched the four seed even before Saturday's play began.

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