May 3, 2008
from press releases and staff reports
PHILADELPHIA - Junior Tom Dooley scored just 11 seconds into overtime after the Pride rallied from two goals down with two minutes to play in regulation, as Hofstra captured the CAA title with a 10-9 victory over Drexel at Vidas Field Saturday night.
It is Hofstra's second CAA championship and its ninth conference title overall. The Pride, who improved to 10-5 on the season, gets the CAA's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament that begins next Saturday, May 10.
The NCAA championship field of 16 will be announced Sunday night at 9 p.m. The Pride will make its 14th NCAA tournament appearance and its second in the past three seasons after advancing to the quarterfinals in 2006.
Hofstra junior Anthony Muscarella led the Pride in Saturday's championship game with four goals and one assist. Senior Michael Unterstein added three goals, junior Michael Colleluori added a goal and two assists and freshman Jay Card posted three assists, including on Dooley's game-winner.
Sophomore goalie Danny Orlando posted 12 saves in the Pride cage.
Hofstra defensemen Collin Stabler and Jack Vivonetto, and freshman faceoff specialist Joe Montemurro were named to the CAA All-Tournament team, with senior middie Kevin Unterstein being named the CAA Championship Most Outstanding Player.
After a 5-5 deadlock at halftime and Hofstra senior middie Michael Unterstein tying the game at 7 just 54 seconds into the fourth quarter off a pass from Muscarella, the Dragons scored goals 12 seconds apart to take a 9-7 lead with 12:40 to play in regulation. The score remained that way as the clock ticked down inside two minutes.
The Pride pulled Orlando to gain an extra attacker. It paid off with a goal by Muscarella with 1:18 in the game on a shot over his shoulder to the left side of the net as he cut to the right.
Montemurro won the ensuing faceoff and, after a Hofstra timeout, sophomore Dan Stein picked up a loose ball in front of the crease and fired it high into the cage to tie the game at 9-9 with 51 seconds remaining.
"This game showed that this team has a lot of character," Pride head coach Seth Tierney said, "They never quit, and I am awfully proud of these guys."
Hofstra (10-5) finished 4-2 in one-goal games this season, compared to a 1-6 mark in 2007. Drexel (13-4) was playing in its first CAA championship game.
