Hempstead, NY - A game-winning goal in a playoff-clinching victory propelled Hofstra graduate defender to a share of the Coastal Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Award. Pearse shared the honor with Northeastern keeper Eliza Teplow, who shutout Monmouth in the Huskies season finale. 

Pearse, a Seaford, New York native, sent the Pride into the postseason with her game-winning strike in the 79th minute of Sunday's 3-2 win at Stony Brook. It was her team-leading fourth goal of the season and locked up the North Division's third seed in the upcoming CAA Women's Soccer Championship.

Hofstra will have a rematch with No. 2 Stony Brook in a quarterfinal game Thursday at 6 p.m. at Stony Brook. The winner will advance to face the North's top seed, Monmouth, Sunday at 1 p.m.