Elon and Hofstra will square off in a rematch of last year’s title game with the CAA Men’s Soccer Championship on the line Saturday at noon at Rudd Field. 

Elon earned a first-round bye as the top seed before getting past Drexel, 1-0, on Sunday. The Elon defense withstood a barrage of 20 Drexel shots to secure its 11th shutout of the year and send the Phoenix back to the CAA title game for the second straight season – the first time Elon has accomplished that in its CAA tenure. A Ben Rosenblatt header in the 20th minute provided the game’s lone tally.

Elon’s 11th shutout of the season matches the top spot nationally. The Phoenix’s goals-against average of 0.529 ranks third in the nation. Elon will play in consecutive conference title games for the first time since the Phoenix won the SoCon title in three straight seasons from 2011-13.

Hofstra defeated William & Mary in overtime and earned a second one-goal win on Sunday over UNCW to return to the conference title game. Ryan Carmichael scored the only goal in the 103rd minute of the first round win over the Tribe and Eliot Goldthorp contributed a goal and assist in the 2-1 semifinal victory.

Hofstra ranks 14th in the nation and leads the CAA with 40 goals this fall. Goldthorp leads the nation with 15 of them, while Carmichael is second in the conference with 10. Hofstra heads to the final for the fourth time in five years; the Pride fell to James Madison in 2018 and 2020-21 before defeating Elon last season.

Saturday’s rematch of last year’s title game – won 3-2 by Hofstra on Long Island – marks the first time since 2004 and 2005 that the same teams will meet for the conference trophy in back-to-back years. Hofstra defeated Old Dominion by 1-0 margins in both those games.

Saturday will be the 15th time in the last 17 seasons that at least one team outside the tournament’s top two will play for the final. A total of 30 international players will suit up for the match.

Saturday, Nov. 12 – Elon, N.C.

No. 3 Hofstra at No. 1 Elon – 12 p.m., FloFC