Hempstead, NY - Petter Soelberg scored two goals and Hendrik Hebbeker added one goal to support a smothering defensive effort as Hofstra shutout Columbia, 3-0, in the regular season finale at Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The shutout was Hofstra's second in a row.
 
The Pride (9-6-2) limited Columbia (4-7-4) to just two shots on the night with one on target. Hofstra also had seven corner kicks to none for the Lions. 
 
Hofstra did not waste much time to get on the board as Soelberg scored at the 5:45 mark off a brilliant touch pass from Matthew Vowinkel. Storm Stongin also got an assist on the play as he played a great ball to Vowinkel, who one-timed it to Seolberg on the right side of the box and his shot beat Columbia keeper Matthew Goodman to the left corner. 
 
Soelberg struck again at 26:19, taking a Shane Salmon pass and after one touch, ripped a shot into the lower right corner. The Pride would close out the scoring at 67:45 when Hebbeker took a pass from Stefan Mason at the left side of the box and took one dribble before curling a shot into the top right corner. 
 
Alex Ashton started the game in goal for the Pride and played 72:19 before yielding to Alex Dudley for the final 17:41. Ashton had one save on the night. 
 
Goodman made four saves for Columbia. John Denis and Beto Carrillo had shots for Columbia with Denis' on goal. 
 
The Pride will be back in action Friday at 1 p.m. when they take on Delaware in the quarterfinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship at James Madison. The Pride is seeded third in the Championship while Delaware is the sixth seed. The winner advances to play #2 James Madison on Sunday at 3 p.m.
 
Notes:
-Hofstra finished the season 6-2-1 at Hofstra Soccer Stadium, the 16th season in a row that the Pride has had a .500 or better record at home.
 
-Storm Strongin's assist was his team-high sixth of the season and marked the fifth consecutive game that he has recorded a helper. 
 
-The shutout was the Pride's sixth of the season.
 
-Salmon has assists in two consecutive games.

-Hofstra is 4-0-2 in its last six games and has outscored its opponents, 17-4, during that span.