WSOC: Hofstra Caps Regular Season With Home Games Versus Delaware And Drexel

Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra will enter the regular season's final weekend with a chance to capture the Colonial Athletic Association's regular season title as the Pride hosts Delaware on Friday at 7 p.m. before a Senior Day finale on Sunday versus Drexel at 1 p.m. from Hofstra Soccer Stadium.

Fans can purchase tickets by visiting HofstraTickets.com, where it is now possible to print their tickets at home. In addition fans can also call (516) HOF-TIXX or visit the Hofstra Athletics Box Office in the Mack Sports Complex for more ticket information.

Friday's game will feature free live video via Pride Productions and both contests will have free live audio that can be accessed on the same portal. Live statistics will be available for both games.

Hofstra, which has already clinched a spot in the six-team CAA Championship, enters the week tied with UNCW for first place with 16 points, going 5-1-1 to start conference play and 11-4-1 overall. The Pride has a game in hand over UNCW. William & Mary has 15 points despite playing one fewer game. The Tribe is scheduled to face Towson and James Madison. The Oct. 2 game against Elon was postponed and no makeup date has been announced as of Oct. 19. Hofstra can finish as high as first or as low as fifth in the tournament field that takes six of the league's ten squads.

The Pride is receiving votes in the latest NSCAA national poll and is ranked second in the Mid-Atlantic regional poll. Head Coach Simon Riddiough's squad holds a RPI of 23.

Hofstra is 5-1 at home this season and will be facing a Drexel squad that will be battling to stay in CAA Tournament contention. Delaware (7-7-2, 2-3-2) enters the week in control of the sixth and final spot, holding an 8-7 points lead over Charleston while having a game in hand over the Cougars.

Hofstra is 16-6-1 in the all-time series against Delaware and will be playing the Blue Hens at home for the second consecutive season following a 4-2 win last season. Hofstra is undefeated in the last three meetings dating to 2012. The Blue Hens rank in the league's bottom half in goals and assists. Delaware has also given up the most goals in the 10-team league, surrendering 26 in 16 games for a 1.62 per-game average. But Delaware has also been the most disciplined, being whistled for a league-low 105 fouls to limit opposing free-kick opportunities.

Delaware has seen one forward step up and contribute almost half of the team's entire goal total. Natalie Zelenky is tied with Hofstra senior forward Leah Galton and UNCW's Maddie McCormick for the CAA lead by scoring 11 goals. Besides playoff seeding, the trio will be going for the league's goal-scoring title in the final weekend. Zelenky is fourth in the league in shots and points, recording 23 total.

Hofstra has dominated the all-time series against Drexel (8-8-0, 2-5-0), going 16-3. The Pride broke a two-game losing streak in the series by posting a 2-1 home victory last season.

Drexel will be looking to stay CAA Tournament consideration after starting the week in eighth place. The top-six teams make the tournament and the Dragons have six points with two CAA games remaining.

Drexel has got off to fast starts this season, out-scoring teams, 11-7, in the first half. Vanessa Kara has accounted for exactly half of her team's goal output, scoring 10 on 27 on-target shots. Madison Dunn has added three goals and three other Drexel players have registered two goals.

The Pride will honor five players before Sunday's kickoff against Drexel. Seniors Mallory Ullrich, Galton, Chloe Dale and Jeannine Molleda will all receive framed jerseys. Redshirt junior Jill Mulholland, who started her career in 2012 with Galton, Dale and Molleda, will also be honored as part of her original class.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Chloe Dale: M; 5' 6"; Senior

#21 Leah Galton: F; 5' 7"; Senior

#13 Jeannine Molleda: F/M; 5' 2"; Senior

#5 Jill Mulholland: M; 5' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#15 Mallory Ullrich: D; 5' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#8 Chloe Dale
: 5' 6"; Senior
: M

#21 Leah Galton
: 5' 7"; Senior
: F

#13 Jeannine Molleda
: 5' 2"; Senior
: F/M

#5 Jill Mulholland
: 5' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: M

#15 Mallory Ullrich
: 5' 1"; Senior
: D