WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Freshman defender
Brayden Smith (West Forsyth H.S./Clemmons, N.C.) and senior midfielder
Jamie Dell (Chapel Hill H.S./Chapel Hill, N.C.) each scored a goal in the second half as No. 28 UNC Wilmington (11-3-2, 4-2-1) celebrated Senior Night with a 2-0 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Hofstra (9-5-2, 4-2-0) at the UNCW Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.
With their second consecutive shutout victory, the Seahawks moved into first place in the CAA standings with 13 points. Hofstra, which lost for the second time in the last three matches, dropped to second place in the standings.
The Seahawks took a 1-0 lead with 22:01 left in regulation when Smith headed in a pass from senior defender
Jacob VanCompernolle (R.L. Turner H.S./Dallas, Texas) for the first goal of his college career.
With 15:35 remaining in regulation, Dell upped the advantage to 2-0 by scoring his team-leading eighth goal of the season off a pass from junior forward
Nathaniel Goodwin (Hough H.S./Huntersville, N.C.).
Junior goalkeeper
Sam Williams (Fayetteville Academy/Clinton, N.C.) made one save to earn his seconds straight victory as the Seahawks outshot the Pride by an 8-5 margin.
Game Notes:- Saturday's match marked the 14th all-time meeting between the Seahawks and the Pride … Hofstra leads the all-time series by an 8-4-2 margin, but has lost three of the last four affairs.
- The Seahawks scored first for the ninth time in 16 matches this season.
- The Seahawks improved to 5-3-1 at home this season … Prior to the match, the Seahawks honored their seven-member senior class.
- UNCW has not allowed a goal in the last 185 minutes, 14 seconds, dating back to a 2-1 loss against Elon on Oct. 15.
- The Seahawks are now 6-0-0 this season when Dell scores a goal … He scored for the first time since netting a goal against Charleston on Oct. 8 in a 2-0 UNCW victory.
- UNCW posted its sixth shutout win of the season on Saturday night.
- UNCW matched its season low with eight shots against Hofstra … The Seahawks also were limited to eight shots at Northeastern last Saturday night.
- Hofstra was held to a season-low five shots against the Seahawks, eclipsing the previous mark of six shots against Northwestern on Aug. 31.
