Mason Tatafu has gotten off to an encouraging start for the Pride. (Photo courtesy of Hofstra)

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – For the third time this season, Hofstra University men’s freshman defender Mason Tatafu has been named the Colonial Athletic Association rookie of the week.

Tatafu also won the award on Sept. 13 and Oct. 4.

Hofstra played once this past week, a 4-0 victory over NJIT. Tatafu played a key role in the Pride’s fifth shutout this season.

The Perth, Australia, native was part of a tight defensive unit that limited the Highlanders to only two shots overall with one shot on goal. The two shots were the fewest allowed by the Pride this season. NJIT also failed to record a corner kick as Tatafu and his Pride teammates were rarely challenged in their own defensive end.

Hofstra is 11-1-1 and has a nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) headed into a key CAA matchup at home against league-leading James Madison University Saturday.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.