Luke Brown tallied Hofstra’s first goal. (Photo courtesy of the Hofstra SID)
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Luke Brown and Storm Strongin scored first-half goals less than eight minutes apart as the Hofstra University men recorded a 2-0 Colonial Athletic Association victory over the College of Charleston in the Pride’s regular-season league finale Saturday night.
Hofstra (8-5-4, 5-2-1) can finish no worse than third in the conference and could finish second and earn a first-round CAA Championship bye.
Brown opened the scoring for the Pride at 31:59, taking a pass from Marcus Lindqvist at the top of the box and driving a shot past goalkeeper Treston Kederer for his fifth of the season.
Strongin netted his first goal of the season at 39:14 after taking a cross-field pass from Etienne Botty on the right side of the goalmouth. Strongin put a quick move on his defender and slid a left-footed shot into the lower right corner to make it a 2-0 game.
The Cougars (5-9-2, 1-5-1) had one real good scoring chance in the second half as Jake Nicholson had his point-blank shot saved by keeper Leo Arkhanhelskyi.
Arkhanhelskyi, making his third consecutive start, made three saves and improved to 2-0-1 on the season. Hofstra has recorded two consecutive shutouts and has 10 this season. Kederer had two saves.
The Pride celebrated senior night, honoring graduating seniors Sean Nealis, Lucas Campos, Nick Bigilin, Gustavo Nascimento, Lindqvist and Arkhanhelskyi.
Hofstra will close out the regular season at Columbia University Tuesday at 7 p.m.