Hofstra, Delaware Advance To MSOC Finals
Hofstra's Joseph Holland had a goal and an assist vs. JMU.

Hofstra, Delaware Advance To MSOC Finals

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Rob Washburn

#3 Delaware 2, #2 Elon 2 (2ot)  - Delaware advances 5-4 on PK's

Highlights

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HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (November 13, 2015) – Third-seeded Delaware advanced past #2 Elon 5-4 on penalty kicks after the two teams battled to a 2-2 double-overtime draw in the semifinals of the CAA Men’s Soccer Championship on Friday evening at Hofstra Stadium.

The Blue Hens (10-6-4) will play in the CAA championship game for the second year in a row at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday against the winner of tonight’s second semifinal between #1 Hofstra and #5 James Madison. Delaware is now unbeaten (6-0-2) in its past eight matches.

With penalty kicks tied at 4-4, Delaware’s Robert Gillin converted his shot into the left side of the net. Blue Hens’ freshman keeper Todd Morton then made a diving block of an attempt by the Phoenix’s Elijah Agu to send UD to the finals.

Elon (13-5-1) rallied from a 2-0 second-half deficit to force the extra session. In the 62nd minute, a crossing pass from Phoenix All-CAA midfielder James Brace was deflected by a sliding Delaware defender into the goal. Still trailing 2-1 in the 87th minute, a shot by Elon’s Sam McBride was blocked, but the deflection went to Eduardo Alvarez, who recorded the equalizer from six yards out for his sixth goal of the season.

The Phoenix, who had an 18-12 advantage in shots, nearly completed the comeback in the second overtime. With just 2:20 remaining, Luis Argudo’s shot from the top of the box deflected off the left post.

Delaware struck quickly and took a 1-0 lead just 8:16 into the match. Senior midfielder Joe Dipre was able to dribble into the middle of the box and sent a left-footed shot off the right post for his fourth goal of the season. The Blue Hens nearly tacked on another score 90 seconds later, but a 12-yard chip from junior Guillermo Delgado flew just wide.

Elon, which had a 7-5 shot advantage in the first half, had several strong scoring chances in the final 25 minutes of the period. The best came with 2:37 remaining in the half when Taylor Adler fired a 15-yard shot from the right side that was smothered by Morton.

The Blue Hens extended their lead to 2-0 in the 54th minute. A Delaware corner kick led to a scramble in front of the Elon net. Senior midfielder Ben Sampson was able to corral a rebound and score his third goal of the year from five yards out.

Morton finished with six saves in goal for Delaware, while Matthew Jegier stopped five shots for Elon.

#1 Hofstra 2, #5 James Madison 0

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Boxscore

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (November 13, 2015) – CAA Player of the Year Joseph Holland had a goal and an assist to lead top-seeded Hofstra to a 2-0 victory over #5 James Madison in the semifinals of the CAA Men’s Soccer Championship on Friday night at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.

The Pride (12-7) moves on to Sunday’s CAA championship game at 2:30 p.m. against #3 Delaware, which advanced past #2 Elon 5-4 on penalty kicks after the teams played to a 2-2 double-overtime draw. Hofstra will be making its first appearance in the finals since 2012.

Hofstra took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute when sophomore Mani Walcott worked a give-and-go in the box with Holland and then sent a sliding shot into the upper right corner from six yards out. It was Walcott’s fourth goal of the season.

The Pride tacked on an insurance goal in the 61st minute. Junior Andreas Iosifides slotted a nice pass to Holland at the top of the box and he was able to beat charging JMU goalkeeper Kyle Morton from 15 yards out for his team-leading seventh goal of the year.

 JMU (5-10-4), which beat Hofstra 2-0 in the final game of the regular season, had quality scoring chances and out-shot the Pride 13-11 for the contest. Midway through the first half, Joe Vyner’s 15-yard shot from the left side was denied on a diving stop by Pride keeper Patric Pray. In the final minute of the half, freshman Billy Metzler’s laser from the top of the box sailed just over the crossbar.

Pray finished with four saves and recorded his seventh shutout of the season. Morton stopped four shots for the Dukes, including a pair of sensational diving stops in the final five minutes of the match.