# Hofstra Pride men's soccer

The Hofstra Pride men's soccer team represents Hofstra University in all NCAA Division I men's college soccer competitions. The Pride play in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
The program has a notable history of achievements and distinguished players. The team has participated in eight NCAA Tournaments, reaching the second round in 2004, 2006, 2015, and 2021, and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in 2021. They have hosted four NCAA Tournament home games and secured six NCAA Tournament victories. In 2021, the team recorded a school record of 18 victories and finished eighth in the final NCAA RPI rankings. Additionally, Hofstra has won seven CAA men's soccer tournament titles in the years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The program has produced several players who have received individual honors. Michael Todd was named to the CAA 25th Anniversary Team and, along with Gary Flood, had his jersey retired. Johannes Grahn was recognized as a Freshman All-American. Five players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft: Flood, Todd, Joseph Holland, Sean Nealis, and Matthew Vowinkel. Six players have earned NSCAA/United Soccer Coaches All-America honors, including Ed Gaffney, Todd, Shaun Foster, Holland, Hendrik Hebbeker, and Eliot Goldthorp. The program also includes 11 Academic All-America selections.
Throughout its history, the team has been led by 9 different coaches, with Richard Nuttall serving as head coach for 36 seasons. Hofstra has produced 41 all-region performers with a total of 63 selections and 85 all-conference honorees with a total of 156 selections. The team has accumulated 497 wins and notable RPI rankings include 21st after the 2006 season, 32nd after the 2015 campaign, and 33rd after the 2022 season. The team was ranked 13th nationally at the conclusion of the 2005 and 2021 seasons.

## History

Hofstra began fielding a men's varsity soccer program in 1954, with Paul Lynner as the program's first head coach. Lynner ultimately coached the program for 11 seasons accumulating a record of 56–66–17. Under their second head coach, Bob VanderWarker, the Pride qualified for their first ever NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, in 1968. There, Hofstra lost in the first round of the tournament, by 1–3 scoreline against Fairleigh Dickinson.
Throughout the 1970s, the Hofstra Pride went through a dark time, having just one season with a winning record between 1970 and 1982. The nadir of their program occurred during the 1975 season, where Hofstra went winless, posting a 0–14–0 record, ultimately leading to Dan DeStefano's dismissal from the program.
The program began a resurgence in the late 1990s into the 2000s under Richard Nuttall, who guided the program to seven additional NCAA tournament berths as well as several conference regular season and tournament titles in both the America East Conference and CAA.

## Stadiums

The Pride play most of their games at the 1,600-capacity Hofstra University Soccer Stadium, which has been their home stadium since 2003. From 1963 until 2002, the Pride played their home matches primarily at James M. Shuart Stadium. From 1954 until 1962, they played their home games at Hofstra Field.

## Coaching staff

As of July 13, 2024. Number of seasons includes the upcoming 2024 season.
| Name | Position coached | Consecutive season at Hofstra in current position |
| Richard Nuttall | Head coach | 36th |
| Stephen Roche | Associate head coach | 9th |
| Shaun Foster | Assistant coach | 7th |
| Adam Janowski | Assistant coach | 5th |
| Robert Sullivan | Athletic Trainer | 21st |
| Reference: |||

## Championships
### Conference regular season championships

The Pride have won five conference regular season championships. Four of them were in the CAA and one was in the America East.
| Year | Coach | Overall Record | Conference Record |
| 1997 | Richard Nuttall | 14–4–3 | 9–0–0 |
| 2015 | Richard Nuttall | 14–8–0 | 6–2–0 |
| 2016 | Richard Nuttall | 9–8–1 | 7–1–0 |
| 2021 | Richard Nuttall | 18–2–2 | 5–1–2 |
| 2023 | Richard Nuttall | 14–3–5 | 5–1–2 |
| Conference regular season championships | Conference regular season championships | Conference regular season championships | 5 |

### Conference tournament championships

The Pride have won seven conference tournament championships, all of which are the CAA men's soccer tournament.
| Year | Coach | Opponent | Score | Site | Overall Record | Conf. Record |
| 2004 | Richard Nuttall | Old Dominion | 1–0 | Richmond, VA | 12–10–1 | 4–4–1 |
| 2005 | Richard Nuttall | Old Dominion | 1–0 | Norfolk, VA | 14–5–3 | 7–2–2 |
| 2006 | Richard Nuttall | George Mason | 1–1 | Virginia Beach, VA | 12–6–3 | 7–3–1 |
| 2015 | Richard Nuttall | Delaware | 2–0 | Hempstead, NY | 14–8–0 | 6–2–0 |
| 2021 | Richard Nuttall | Elon | 3–2 | Hempstead, NY | 18–2–2 | 5–1–2 |
| 2022 | Richard Nuttall | Elon | 2–1 | Elon, NC | 14–4–3 | 5–2–2 |
| 2023 | Richard Nuttall | Monmouth | 2–1 | Hempstead, NY | 14–3–5 | 5–1–2 |
| Conference tournament championships | Conference tournament championships | Conference tournament championships | Conference tournament championships | Conference tournament championships | Conference tournament championships | 7 |

## Rivalries
### Record against CAA opponents

| Opponent | Series record |
| Campbell | 0–0–1 |
| Charleston | 6–1–3 |
| Delaware | 24–13–2 |
| Drexel | 22–22–12 |
| Elon | 10–2–1 |
| Monmouth | 7–0–1 |
| Northeastern | 13–15–3 |
| Stony Brook | 19–13–7 |
| Towson | 11–11–6 |
| UNCW | 16–6–4 |
| William & Mary | 13–12–5 |

## Coaching records

| Coach | Years | Overall | Overall | Conference | Conference | Note |
| Coach | Years | Record | Pct. | Record | Pct. | Note |
| Paul Lynner | 1954–64 | 56–66–17 | .464 | | | |
| Bob VanderWarker | 1965–69 | 34–41–7 | .457 | | | |
| Jim Amen | 1970 | 4–11–0 | .267 | | | |
| Dan DeStefano | 1971–75 | 6–61–3 | .107 | | | |
| Angelo Anastio | 1976–77 | 11–13–5 | .466 | | | |
| Ken Germano | 1978–81 | 16–38–6 | .421 | | | |
| Tom Lang | 1982–85 | 37–23–6 | .606 | | | |
| Ian Collins | 1986–88 | 11–31–8 | .300 | | | |
| Richard Nuttall | 1989– | 322–251–80 | .554 | | | |
| Total | | 497–535–132 | .484 | | | |

## Postseason
### NCAA tournament results

Hofstra has appeared in seven NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 6–7–1.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1968 | — | First round | Fairleigh Dickinson | L 1–3 |
| 2004 | — | First round Second round | Seton Hall No. 3 Maryland | W 2–1 L 0–4 |
| 2005 | — | First round | Providence | L 0–1$^{OT}$ |
| 2006 | — | First round Second round | Providence No. 2 Wake Forest | W 2–0 L 1–5 |
| 2015 | — | First round Second round | Lehigh No. 3 Georgetown | W 2–1$^{OT}$ L 0–3 |
| 2021 | — | First round Second round Third round | Lipscomb No. 12 Penn State No. 5 Pitt | W 4–2 W 8–2 L 0–4 |
| 2022 | — | First round | South Florida | L 2–4 |
| 2023 | No. 14 | Second round Third round | Yale No. 3 North Carolina | W 2–0 T 2–2$^{(L3–5PK)}$ |