Ryan Carmichael scored his 30th career goal for the Pride. (Photo courtesy of Hofstra)

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Hofstra University men opened the fall season with a 1-0 victory over Marist College at Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Thursday night.

Ryan Carmichael scored the lone goal in the 59th minute and goalkeeper Wessel Speel posted three saves for his 17th shutout.

Carmichael headed in a cross from Eliot Goldthorp at 58:07 for the winning goal. The play capped off a good day for the duo as both were named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Carmichael moved into a tie for sixth place on the Hofstra all-time goals list with his 30th and is now seventh in points with 73.

Speel came up big in the second half as he made all three of his saves in the final 45 minutes including two from on dangerous chances that kept the Pride on top.

Hofstra held a 22-12 advantage in shots and placed 11 on goal. Marist keeper Luca Bulfon had 10 saves.

The Pride is 12-5-4 in its last 21 season openers and is 24-8-3 in 35 home openers under head coach Richard Nuttall.

The team also is 11-5-1 all-time against Marist.

Hofstra returns to action at Fairleigh Dickinson University on Monday at 7 p.m.

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.