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The Hofstra Pride are the 36th team in our 2018 schedule preview series and the second team from the CAA. The Pride started the season 10-0 and got as high as number two in the polls before losing three of their last four games, including a heartbreaker in the CAA semifinals.
Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:
Hofstra’s 2018 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
| 1/28 | Hofstra | Syracuse/Le Moyne (D2) | Scrimmages | |
| 2/3 | Teams TBA | Hofstra | Scrimmages | |
| 2/17 | Hofstra | Ohio State | First meeting since 2016 (8-5 W) | |
| 2/24 | Villanova | Hofstra | First meeting since 2009 (9-7 L) | |
| 2/27 | Hofstra | Stony Brook | 11-9 W | |
| 3/3 | Georgetown | Hofstra | 11-9 W | |
| 3/10 | North Carolina | Hofstra | 11-9 W | |
| 3/13 | Monmouth | Hofstra | 11-9 W | |
| 3/17 | Hofstra | Providence | 11-10 W | |
| 3/20 | Lehigh | Hofstra | First meeting since 1990 (22-7 W) | |
| 3/24 | Hofstra | St. John's | 9-6 W | |
| 3/31 | Towson | Hofstra | CAA | 10-8 L |
| 4/7 | Fairfield | Hofstra | CAA | 10-6 W |
| 4/14 | Delaware | Hofstra | CAA | 11-9 W |
| 4/21 | Hofstra | Drexel | CAA | 13-12 L |
| 4/28 | Hofstra | UMass | CAA | 15-8 W, 13-12 L |
Princeton, NJIT, and Cleveland State (who was on the schedule but never played Hofstra due to weather) are off the schedule. In comes Ohio State after a one-year hiatus, a former CAA rival in Villanova, and Lehigh.
Let’s check out some notable games on this schedule:
Best Nonconference Game: vs. North Carolina
They played each other the past two wins in Chapel Hill. Hofstra won both contests. Josh Byrne had a hat-trick and two assists for the Pride, but he graduated. But midfielder Dylan Alderman had a trio of goals and assists as well, and will be looked toward producing more offense.
Best Conference Game: vs. Towson
Hofstra and Towson have been the two best teams in the CAA for the past few years. But they never played each other in the CAA Championship, including last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the first of two matchups this year, with the second finally coming in the CAA Championship.
Under The Radar Game: vs. Lehigh
Hofstra has won all five meetings against the Mountain Hawks, but the last came in 1990. Many things have changed since then. Lehigh has a few good juniors in Tristan Rai and Craig Chick, along with FOGO Conor Gaffney. The Pride look to go 6-0 all-time.
Possible Upset: @ Ohio State
The Buckeyes will be contenders in the Big Ten for another season. Hofstra aren’t in the College Crosse top 20. It’s a mild upset, but one that could change the outlook of both teams entering the 2018 season.