Hofstra Faces Charleston for CAA Men's Soccer Championship

Hofstra prepares to host Charleston this Saturday, November 14, in a Coastal Athletic Association championship game that pits a perennial powerhouse against a first-time finalist.

The Pride will defend Captains Field at 5 p.m. to seek their ninth conference crown, according to Hofstra University Athletics. The winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, a result that determines regional soccer rankings.

Hofstra enters the contest as the North Division’s No. 2 seed, holding an 11-4-4 overall record. The Pride secured their spot in the final following a 1-0 win over top-seeded Stony Brook in Sunday’s semifinal at LaValle Stadium.

Lewis Matton scored the decisive goal just 5:15 into that match after receiving a long pass from Henri Poll. Goalkeeper Milo Risenhoover anchored the defense, recording four saves to earn his seventh shutout of the season.

Charleston arrives as the South Division’s No. 3 seed with a 9-4-5 record. The Cougars reached their first-ever CAA championship game by defeating top-seeded UNCW 2-1 in Sunday’s semifinal. Stian Bendvold and Lennon Gill provided the scoring for Charleston, with Gill striking from 25 yards out in the 17th minute. Despite being outshot 22-10, Charleston relied on goalkeeper Charlie Duske, who made four saves to preserve the lead.

The historical gap between these two programs is stark. Hofstra has established a dynasty within the CAA, capturing eight championships across several decades, including a run of four consecutive titles from 2021 through 2024. The Charleston Cougars have reached the conference title contest for the first time.

The Pride’s experience in high-pressure postseason environments is well-documented. Hofstra holds an 8-2-2 record in its last 12 championship appearances. The program has reached the final in 2010, 2012, 2018, 2020, and most recently in 2024.

Metric	Hofstra Pride	Charleston Cougars
Overall Record	11-4-4	9-4-5
CAA Championship Appearances	13	1
Conference Titles Won	8	0

While Charleston lacks the trophy cabinet of their opponents, they enter the game with momentum. The Cougars’ ability to withstand pressure—evidenced by their 22-10 shot deficit against UNCW—suggests they may be prepared for Hofstra’s offensive surges.

Historical data suggests that playing on home soil provides a distinct edge for the Pride. Hofstra holds a 6-2-3 all-time record against Charleston and has been particularly dominant at Captains Field, maintaining a 4-0 home record against the Cougars.

The two teams share a recent history of tightly contested matches. On November 7, 2024, Hofstra defeated Charleston 3-2 in a double-overtime thriller during the CAA Championship Quarterfinals in Elon, North Carolina. That victory followed a regular-season meeting in South Carolina where Charleston won 3-1.

The stakes extend beyond the immediate trophy. NCAA tournament selections will be announced Monday at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com, meaning this Saturday’s result will likely dictate the postseason trajectory for both programs.

The championship game will be streamed live on FloCollege.