STONY BROOK, NEW YORK — #2 Stony Brook survived a furious second-half comeback from #3 Hofstra to claim a 2-1 overtime victory Thursday in a CAA Championship matchup that tested both teams' resolve. Reilly Rich scored twice for the Seawolves, including the golden goal in the 100th minute, while Mathilde Braithwaite's equalizer kept the Pride alive deep into the second half. The match drew a spirited crowd to the Stony Brook campus in what became a back-and-forth battle between two of the conference's elite programs.
Rich opened the scoring in the 30th minute when she capitalized on a setup from Abigail Roche, giving Stony Brook an early advantage. The goal came at a critical juncture as both teams had traded chances throughout the opening half. Hofstra's attack generated opportunities but couldn't find the breakthrough, with shots from Olivia Pearse, Hailey Moschitta, and Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir all going wide. Stony Brook's defense, anchored by goalkeeper work that would prove essential, weathered the pressure and maintained its lead through 45 minutes.
The first half belonged largely to Hofstra's attacking rhythm, though the Pride couldn't convert their territorial advantage into goals. Braithwaite tested the Stony Brook backline repeatedly, while Watson and Davies created problems down the flanks. Stony Brook, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the counter, with Rich continuing to threaten. The Seawolves made several substitutions around the 27-minute mark, adjusting their shape as the half progressed.
Hofstra emerged from halftime with renewed intensity and finally broke through in the 56th minute when Braithwaite finished to level the match at 1-1. The goal shifted momentum decisively toward the Pride, who suddenly looked like the hungrier team. Stony Brook's defense, which had been relatively composed, faced sustained pressure as Hofstra pressed for a go-ahead goal. The match became increasingly open, with both sides creating chances in a frenetic stretch of play.
As regulation time wound down, neither team could find a winner. Hofstra continued pressing but couldn't get past Stony Brook's goalkeeper, who made eight saves across 90 minutes. The Seawolves, meanwhile, struggled to regain their early-match control. Multiple substitutions from both benches in the final 20 minutes reflected the tactical chess match unfolding on the field. The intensity never wavered, setting up an overtime period that would decide the championship matchup.
Rich settled the matter in the 100th minute, striking decisively to send Stony Brook through. The goal capped a grueling contest that saw Hofstra outshoot the Seawolves 25-12 overall and 9-4 on target. Despite the statistical advantage, Hofstra's inability to convert chances in crucial moments proved costly. Stony Brook's goalkeeper made the difference when it mattered most, turning away nine shots across the extended match.
The victory improves Stony Brook to 11-6-1 and keeps the Seawolves' championship hopes alive. Hofstra, which entered as the third seed with a 6-5-7 record, saw its tournament run end in heartbreaking fashion after controlling much of the second half. The Pride's nine corner kicks generated little, while Stony Brook's clinical finishing in key moments made the difference.
Stony Brook advances to face #1 Monmouth on November 2 in the next round of the CAA Championship. The Seawolves will look to build on this momentum, though they'll need to tighten their defensive shape against an even more formidable opponent. For Hofstra, the loss ends a tournament run that showed promise but ultimately fell short when it mattered most.