Richard Nuttall became the 60th Division I men’s coach to reach 300 wins. (Photo courtesy of Hofstra)
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Ryan Carmichael and Stefan Mason scored first-half goals, and George O’Malley provided some insurance in the second half as the Hofstra University men defeated Columbia University, 3-1, in a non-conference game at Hofstra Soccer Stadium Tuesday night.
The win gave Hofstra Head Coach Richard Nuttall his 300th career victory.
Nuttall, is in his 33rd season at Hofstra, became the 22nd active Division I head coach to achieve 300 victories. He also is the 60th Division I head coach all-time to win at least 300 games.
The Pride continued the best start in program history by climbing to 10-1. The team won for the seventh consecutive time. Columbia fell to 1-6-2 with its fourth consecutive loss.
Carmichael opened the scoring at 18:04 as he headed in a long feed into the box from Hendrik Hebbeker. The goal was Carmichael’s team-leading ninth and his seventh in the last four games. Mason doubled the lead at 33:49 when he took a pass from the right side from Matthew Vowinkel. He moved left across the top of the box before blasting a blistering left-footed shot into the top left corner of the net for his third goal.
Columbia cut the deficit in half at 66:04 when Will DeNight scored his first goal of the season, sending in a free kick. However, O’Malley gave the Pride some breathing room eight minutes later as he headed in a free kick from midfield that was sent into the box by Storm Strongin. The ball bounced once and O’Malley headed it from right in front of the goal past Columbia keeper Michael Collodi. It was O’Malley’s first goal of the season.
Hofstra keeper Wessel Speel had three saves, including two consecutive stops from point-blank range at the end of the first half.
The Pride visits the College of Charleston Saturday at noon.
