Hofstra University Athletics

WSOC: Hofstra Hosts UNCW Sunday, Looks For 16th Straight Win

10/23/2010 3:02:00 PM

Hempstead, N.Y. - The 22nd-ranked Hofstra Women's Soccer team, which is riding a 15-game winning streak, will host the team that ended its 2009 season when it faces UNC Wilmington on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Hofstra comes into Sunday's contest with the longest active winning streak in the country, which has easily eclipsed the previous school record of 10 games, set in 2005. The Pride is 15-1 overall on the year, including a perfect 9-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association, and it has already clinched the top seed and the right to host the CAA Tournament on Nov. 5-7. UNC Wilmington, meanwhile, is 9-8 overall and 6-3 in the CAA and is still fighting for one of the four spots in the tournament field.

A year ago, Hofstra and UNC Wilmington met in the CAA semifinals at Northeastern, and UNC Wilmington escaped with a 2-1 overtime win, despite being outshot 21-9 for the game. Current junior midfielder Erin Pardini, a Long Island native (Smithtown), scored the game-winning goal from a difficult angle near the end line at the 7:21 mark of the first overtime session, which was UNC Wilmington's first shot in 30 minutes after the Pride took the final nine shots of regulation but could not break the tie.

Despite having the top seed locked up, Hofstra still has a lot to play for in its final two regular season games. A win or a tie would give the Pride the regular season title outright (James Madison could still tie Hofstra for first, but the Pride would have the tiebreaker). With two wins, Hofstra would finish the CAA regular season 11-0, which would be the first time a team went undefeated and untied in league play since William & Mary was 8-0 in 1998. William & Mary was also the last team to go undefeated in the CAA regular season in 2006, when it was 10-0-1.

In addition, Hofstra was ranked 15th in the latest ratings percentage index from the NCAA and would be in excellent position for an at-large bid if it did not win the CAA Tournament. If the Pride closes strong, it could also potentially be seeded in the top 16 in the country and earn the right to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

The Pride did take care of its first order or business by securing the top seed in the CAA Tournament and the right to host with its 3-2 overtime win over Georgia State on Friday. Hofstra held a 29-4 edge in shots, but had to go to extra time after Georgia State tied the score 2-2 with just over 11 minutes to play. Just 4:58 into the first extra session, though, junior midfielder Courtney Breen (Hicksville, N.Y.) headed in a cross from senior forward Grace Hawkins (Northport, N.Y.) for a golden goal to give Hofstra the top seed.

After facing UNC Wilmington, the Pride wll close out the regular season with a home game next weekend against Northeastern, which kicks off on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., the first part of a doubleheader with the Hofstra Men's Soccer team, which plays William & Mary at 7 p.m. The Northeastern game will also be senior day for the Pride's seven seniors, which are now part of the winningest class in school history with 54 wins over the last four years.

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