Hofstra gets home game in 1st round of NCAA men's soccer tourney

Matthew Vowinkel scored both Hofstra goals in Thursday’s CAA men's soccer semifinal and the tying and winning goal in Sunday’s final. The graduate striker from New Hyde Park did his fair share at Hofstra Soccer Stadium as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

"It was very, very exciting to win that championship that you’ve been chasing for five years now," Vowinkel said, "and [I was] just really, really excited to make sure I did it for everybody that is in the Hofstra program, the coaches, the players, the fans, whoever it may be."

These players and coaches earned Hofstra’s first CAA tournament title and trip to the NCAAs since 2015. Monday, the 16-1-2 Pride saw what’s coming after gaining their automatic bid.

The selection show showed good news for them — a first-round home game, Thursday at 7 p.m., against Atlantic Sun champion Lipscomb (12-3-2).

"Incredibly pleased with a home game in the NCAAs," 33rd-year coach Richard Nuttall said. "I’m proud that we achieved that mantle and opportunity in our lives."

Hofstra hasn’t been past the second round. This is its sixth trip. A Sunday game at Big Ten champ Penn State would be next.

But this Pride team broke the program’s single-season victory record of 15, which had stood since 1968. It’s on a 13-0-2 run. Ryan Carmichael leads with 13 goals. Vowinkel, a former Chaminade All-American, has 11.

"If we play well," Nuttall said, "we believe we can play with any team in the country."