HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Hofstra University claimed three major awards and placed nine on All-Colonial Athletic Association teams as the league announced its postseason awards Wednesday morning.
Winning major awards were defensive player of the year George O’Malley, rookie of the year Mason Tatafu and coach of the year Richard Nuttall.
O’Malley, who was also a first team All-CAA selection, earned top defensive onors for the first time after anchoring a back line that has contributed to a league-high tying nine shutouts and a goals- against average of 0.57. The fifth-year senior co-captain from Harrow, England has one goal and is making his second consecutive appearance on the first team. O’Malley is Hofstra’s seventh CAA defensive player of the year selection and first since Sean Nealis in 2018.
Tatafu enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign as the Perth, Australia, native started all 17 games on the back line, and contributed to the Pride’s success on both ends of the field. He also had three goals. Tatafu, who was also named to the All-CAA third team and the CAA All-Rookie Team, is Hofstra’s fourth CAA rookie of the year and the first since Luke Brown in 2016.
Nuttall directed the Pride to a 14-1-2 record during the regular season and the top seed in the upcoming CAA Championship after being picked third in the CAA preseason poll. Hofstra’s .882 winning percentage is sixth best in the nation and its 14 wins are one shy of the program record. The Pride has been nationally ranked for much of the latter part of the season and matched their highest-ever ranking this week with a No. 13 spot in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Nuttall is a three-time CAA coach of the year after also claiming the award in 2015 and 2016.
Sophomore forward Ryan Carmichael, who leads the CAA in scoring with 13 goals and 30 points, earned first team All-CAA accolades. The Armagh, Northern Ireland native has goals in nine of 17 games, including a run of seven consecutive matches that saw him post 11 scores. He also ranks fifth in the nation in goals and sixth in points. He was a third team All-CAA pick last season.
Joining Carmichael on the first team was forward Matthew Vowinkel. A graduate student, Vowinkel made his third consecutive appearance on the first team and his fourth appearance overall on a postseason all-conference squad. The New Hyde Park, N.Y. native has seven goals and six assists for 20 points this season. He ranks fourth in the CAA in goals, 10th in assists and fifth in points.
Senior midfielder Hendrik Hebbeker earned his first All-CAA nod as his breakout season put him on the first team. The Cologne, Germany native ranks second on the team in scoring with six goals and nine assists for 21 points. He leads the team and ranks second in the CAA in assists and is fourth in points. Hebbeker’s scoring totals represent career highs.
Sophomore goalkeeper Wessel Speel earns his first All-CAA accolade with a spot on the first team following a stellar regular season that saw him post 14 victories, a 0.577 goals-against average, a .836 save percentage and eight shutouts. A native of Utrecht, The Netherlands, Speel leads the CAA in all four categories and ranks among the national leaders in each as well.
Graduate midfielder Storm Strongin earned a spot on the All-CAA third team after tallying two goals and eight assists for 10 points this season. He ranks second on the team in assists and fourth in scoring, and is fourth in the CAA in assists. The Hicksville, N.Y., native was a second team selection last season.
Junior defender Stefan Mason also earned a spot on the thirdteam, his first postseason honor. A native of Knowle, United Kingdom, Mason was a key cog on the defense and contributed a career-high three goals and four assists. All three goals by the team co-captain were game-winners.
Freshman midfielder Lorenzo Selini was named to the All-Rookie team. The first-year player from Selden, New York, competed in 10 games and had one assist.
Hofstra hosts Drexel University in the CAA Championship semifinals at Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
2021 All-CAA Men’s Soccer Honors
First Team
Name School Pos. Cl. Hometown
Ryan Carmichael Hofstra F So. Armagh, Northern Ireland
Chris Donovan Drexel F Sr. Paoli, Pa.
Luca Erhardt James Madison F Sr. Offenbach, Germany
Matthew Vowinkel Hofstra F Gr. New Hyde Park, N.Y.
Jacob Evans UNCW M R-Sr. Chester, Cheshire, England
Hendrik Hebbeker Hofstra M Sr. Cologne, Germany
Alexander Levengood William & Mary M Jr. Richmond, Va.
Federico Tellez Northeastern M So. Miami, Fla.
Melker Anshelm James Madison D Sr. Stockholm, Sweden
Tyler Clegg James Madison D Sr. Woodbridge, Va.
George O’Malley Hofstra D Sr. Harrow, England
Wessel Speel Hofstra GK So. Utrecht, Netherlands
Second Team
Name School Pos. Cl. Hometown
Benjamin Klingen Northeastern F Sr. Wadersloh, Germany
Nicolas Molina UNCW F Gr. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Diba Nwegbo William & Mary F Jr. Acworth, Ga.
Axel Ahlander James Madison M So. Nøtterøy, Norway
Daniel Nesseler Drexel M Gr. Leverkusen, Germany
Rodrigo Robles James Madison M Jr. Burgos, Spain
Michael Hornsby UNCW D Gr. Biberach an der Riss, Germany
Kasper Lehm Elon D Jr. Odense, Denmark
Nathan Messer William & Mary D Jr. Bethesda, Md.
Jannik Videbaek Elon D So. Silkeborg, Denmark
Gabriel Perrotta UNCW GK Jr. Asuncion, Paraguay
Third Team
Name School Pos. Cl. Hometown
Jack Edwards Elon F Sr. Oak Ridge, N.C.
Timothy Ennin Northeastern F R-Jr. Hartford, Conn.
Alex Krakowiak James Madison M So. Guelph, Ontario
Storm Strongin Hofstra M Gr. Hicksville, N.Y.
Kyle Tucker Drexel M Sr. Phoenixville, Pa.
Aron Adalsteinsson Delaware D Jr. Reykjavik, Iceland
Stefan Mason Hofstra D Jr. Knowle, United Kingdom
Youri Senden Drexel D Fr. Voerendaal, Netherlands
Mason Tatafu Hofstra D Fr. Perth, Australia
Colby Hegarty Northeastern GK R-So. Upton, Mass.
Cameron Sanders Drexel GK R-Sr. York Springs, Pa.
2021 CAA Player of the Year: Chris Donovan, Drexel
2021 CAA Defensive Player of the Year: George O’Malley, Hofstra
2021 CAA Rookie of the Year: Mason Tatafu, Hofstra
2021 CAA Coach of the Year: Richard Nuttall, Hofstra
2021 CAA Men’s Soccer All-Rookie Team
Name School Pos. Cl. Hometown
Jack Crocco William & Mary D So. Midlothian, Va.
Calle Edelstam Elon M Fr. Djursholm, Sweden
Carlos Fernandez Delaware F Fr. A Coruña, Spain
Adam Hillis UNCW M Fr. Tasman, New Zealand
Søren Ilsøe Northeastern M So. Faaborg, Denmark
Daniel Pereira Charleston D Fr. Praia da Vitória, Azores, Portugal
Sebastian Restrepo Northeastern F Fr. Miami, Fla.
Lorenzo Selini Hofstra M Fr. Selden, N.Y.
Youri Senden Drexel D Fr. Voerendaal, Netherlands
Mason Tatafu Hofstra D Fr. Perth, Australia
Andres Torrealba Northeastern M Fr. Miami, Fla.
Scott Vatne Elon M Fr. Klepp, Norway
