Wilmington, NC – Third-seeded Hofstra used an Eliot Goldthorp goal in the 75th minute to rally past second-seeded UNCW, 2-1, in the CAA Men’s Soccer Championship Semifinals at UNCW Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Pride improved to 13-3-3 overall and advance to the CAA Championship title match vs. Elon next weekend. The Seahawks conclude their season at 6-4-7.
UNCW recorded a season-high 20 shots, including a career-high five attempts by All-CAA First Teamer Bachir Ndiaye. Hofstra totaled 11 of its 19 shots in the second half.
The Seahawks struck first in the 14th minute when freshman Ethan Newsome delivered a strike that sailed through the top-left corner of the goal after corralling the ricocheted from a Ndiaye shot attempt.
UNCW held the lead until the Goldthorp sent a ball into a scrum in the box that Marcelo Lage found and booted through to knot the game, 1-all, with under 15 minutes to go in the first half.
Goldthorp then captured the game-winner with his CAA-leading 15th goal of the year in the 75th minute to send Hofstra to Elon for a chance to defend its CAA crown next Saturday.
UNCW senior goalkeeper Gabriel Perrotta notched a season-high nine saves to add to his CAA-high 67 saves. Hofstra netminder Wessel Speel collected seven saves.
GAME NOTES: The Seahawks hosted the CAA Championships for the seventh time and first since 2019 … Hofstra picked up its second win at UNCW this year … The Seahawks had 12 shots in the first half … UNCW played a man down the final 16:30 after Angelo Madrid was sent off … Cannon Tootle matched his career-high with four shots in 53 minutes … There were 19 shots on goal … Both teams had five corner kicks … Attendance was 753.
