Hempstead, NY – Hofstra scored two goals in the final 1:38 of the first half and stifled 12th-ranked James Madison in a 3-0 win Saturday night at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The win was Hofstra’s first over a ranked team since a 4-1 win at #13 Virginia Tech in the 2008 season.
 
The match was Hofstra’s season finale as the Pride end the season with a 7-10-1 record, 4-7 in the CAA. James Madison, which is the top seed in next week’s CAA Championship, falls to 12-4-1 overall and 8-3 in the CAA.
 
The two teams battled through the first 43 minutes of the first half without a goal until Chris Griebsch took a shot from the left side that was saved by JMU keeper Justin Epperson. The rebound went to Maid Memic on the right side of the box, and the freshman slid the shot past an out-of-position Epperson for his first collegiate goal at the 43:22 mark.

Just over a minute later Memic was on the serving end of a Hofstra goal as his hard cross into the box found Tyler Botte’s head for a 2-0 Pride lead at the 44:40 mark. The goal was Botte’s fourth of the season. The Pride outshot the Dukes, 6-3, in the half.
 
The Pride was not content to sit back on their heels in the second half and put pressure on James Madison throughout the half. Senior Brett Carrington, playing in his final match had a brilliant chance, but was unlucky as his strike hit the post at the 80:20 mark. But Carrington redeemed himself 1:45 later as Mike Annarumma sent him in on a breakaway and this time his shot got past Epperson for a 3-0 lead. The goal was Carrington’s fourth of the season and 17th of his career.
 
Pride keeper Roberto Pellegrini was called on to make just one save in the contest. Epperson finished with three saves.
 
Hofstra finished with 16 shots in the match, while James Madison had nine.

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