UNCW and Hofstra March on to CAA Men’s Soccer Semifinals
Ben Kane
ELON, N.C. and PHILADELPHIA Pa. (Nov. 7, 2024) – Ninety minutes was not enough to separate the four teams looking to advance in the CAA Men’s Soccer Championship.
No. 6 UNCW upended No. 3 Monmouth, 5-4 in penalty kicks, after the teams battled to a 1-1 double-overtime draw, while No.4 Hofstra defeated No.5 Charleston 3-2 in double overtime.
No. 6 UNCW 1, No. 3 Monmouth 1 (2ot) – UNCW advances 5-4 on PK’s
UNCW substitute goalkeeper
Bennett Jones proved to be the hero in penalties, making three saves in just his third appearance of the season, as the Seahawks picked off third-seeded Monmouth, 5-4 in penalty kicks after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in the CAA Men's Soccer First Round.
After not playing in the opening 110 minutes, Jones stepped into goal for UNCW during penalty kicks and stopped three shots. UNCW’s
Caleb Powell broke a 4-4 tie in penalties with a shot to the lower right side.
Both goalkeepers were in fine form in the first half, denying point-blank stops to keep the game scoreless. UNCW had the best opportunity midway through the first half, but Monmouth’s
Eryk Dymora stood tall punching
Cesare D’Amico’s shot past his near post.
Ten minutes later, UNCW goalie
Trey Smiley responded at the other end of the field, shutting down a 1v1 effort from
Jakob Friedman to keep the game level heading into the second half.
Monmouth’s
Erik Reis opened the scoring 50 minutes into the contest, converting from a long-range set piece. With the clock winding down, UNCW’s
Christian Acevedo fired the game level, netting a loose ball home from close range. The goal was the freshman’s third of the season, and second against Monmouth this season.
The Seahawks converted five of its six spot kicks, with Powell firing the decisive shot home. Dymora made two stops in the shootout to keep the game within reach, and scored Monmouth’s fifth kick as well.
UNCW will play No. 2 seed Drexel in the semifinals on Sunday at 3 p.m. in Philadelphia.
No. 4 Hofstra 3, No. 5 Charleston 2 (2ot)
Deadlocked after 108 minutes, Hofstra’s
Teddy Baker scored the game-winning goal on a corner kick, propelling No. 4 Hofstra to a 3-2 victory over No. 5 Charleston, advancing the Pride to the semifinals of the CAA Men’s Soccer Championship.
Hofstra’s
Laurie Goddard opened the scoring less than five minutes into the game, redirecting a ball into the box past Charleston’s goal. The Pride kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of the half, with four of their seven shots falling on target.
Facing a 1-0 deficit heading into the second half, Charleston came out firing. Its best early opportunity came from a header off a corner kick, but
Filippo Dadone was equal to it for his second stop of the evening.
A perfectly executed corner kick equaled the game in the 65th minute when the Cougars’
Noah Gold flicked the ball to
Matt Lenert who headed it into an open net. Lenert’s finish was his eighth of the season, moving him into second on the team.
Roc Carles gave Hofstra the lead back with 18 minutes remaining in regulation, volleying one into the bottom left corner, marking his first goal since Aug. 25. Cougars defender Ryan Watson matched Carles’ volley, powering one from just outside the 18-yard box to level the game once again in the 80
th minute.
Both sides exchanged chances in the first overtime, but it was Baker who scored directly from a corner kick with two minutes remaining in the second overtime period to win the game for Hofstra.
Hofstra will play No. 1 seed Elon in the semifinals on Sunday at 2 p.m. in North Carolina.
2024 CAA Men’s Soccer Championship
Thursday, Nov. 7
No. 6 UNCW 1, No 3 Monmouth 1 (2ot) (UNCW adv. 5-4 on PKs)
No.4 Hofstra 3, No. 5 Charleston 2 (2ot)
Sunday, Nov. 10
(4) Hofstra at (1) Elon (Elon, N.C.)– 2 p.m., FloFC
(6) UNCW at (2) Drexel (Philadelphia, Pa.) – 3 p.m., FloFC
Saturday, Nov. 16 or Sunday, Nov. 17
CAA Final – Time TBD, FloFC