Philadelphia, PA - Matthew Vowinkel had a goal and two assists, Hendrik Hebbeker added a goal and an assist, and George O'Malley and Storm Strongin had a goal each as the Pride defeated UNCW, 4-2, in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Soccer Championship at Vidas Field. Hofstra had built a 3-0 first half lead before the Seahawks cut the lead to one midway through the second half.

Hofstra (5-2-2) advances to play James Madison in the CAA Championship Game on Saturday at 12 p.m. The Pride will be making its eighth CAA Championship Game appearance and its second in three seasons.

Hofstra was on the attack from the opening whistle as O'Malley scored in the third minute following a flurry of shots off a Hofstra corner kick. Storm Strongin sent the kick into the box that was headed by Pierce Infuso and saved by UNCW keeper Gabriel Perrotta. The rebound went to Vowinkel, who had his shot stopped by Perrotta. But the rebounds went right to O'Malley in front and the First Team All-CAA selection buried his shot into the right corner for his first goal of the season.

Hebbeker put the Pride up by a 2-0 count in the 19th minute when he came in down the left side and sent a tough-angled shot over the head of Perrotta. Storm Strongin, a Second Team All-CAA pick, found the back of the net in the 27th minute as he took the rebound of Vowinkel's header and slid a left-footed shot past a sprawling Perrotta for a 3-0 lead.

UNCW came back out after halftime and put some pressure on the Pride, breaking through in the 69th minute as Parker Norris took a through ball from Gabe Mercer and one-timed a shot past Hofstra keeper Wessel Speel for the first Seahawks goal. Three minutes later, Mercer sent a cross in from the left side that Jacob Evans headed in to make it a one-goal game.

UNCW could not get the equalizer and Vowinkel, a First Team All-CAA selection, iced it for the Pride in the 88th minute when he took a pass from Hebbeker outside the top of the box and blasted a 25-yard rocket into the upper right corner.  

Speel had a season-best seven saves for the Pride while Perrotta made 12 saves in goal for the Seahawks.

Notes:
-Hofstra had 19 shots with 17 on goal.
-The Pride is 4-2-1 in CAA Championship Finals, winning n 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2015.
-Vowinkel's 29th career goal moved him into a tie for sixth place on the Hofstra all-time goals list with Alan Bodenstein (1982-85).
-Hebbeker, Strongin, and Vowinkel have each scored goals in back-to-back games.
-Hofstra moved to 12-6-3 all-time against UNCW.