VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (November 11, 2007) – Junior midfielder Edel Malone’s goal with just 7:43 remaining gave second-seeded Hofstra a 1-0 victory over #4 VCU in the title game of the CAA Women’s Soccer Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.

It was the second CAA championship in the past three years for Hofstra (17-3), which also beat VCU 1-0 to claim the crown in 2005. The Pride, which set a school-record for wins in a season, receives the CAA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, whose field will be announced on Monday night. The Rams dropped to 11-8-3 overall.

On the deciding play, sophomore Diane Caldwell received a pass along the right side from Jess Crankshaw. Caldwell dribbled into the box on the right side and fired a cross to a wide-open Malone, who volleyed the ball into the goal from six yards away. It was Malone’s seventh goal of the season and the fourth assist for Caldwell.

Hofstra junior goalkeeper Krystal Robens made just one save to record her sixth consecutive shutout and 11^th overall, which matches a school record. VCU keeper Emily Niman stopped three shots for VCU and allowed only one goal in 200 minutes of action in the tournament. Hofstra had an 8-6 shot advantage in the game

VCU’s only shot on goal didn’t come until the 74^th minute, but it nearly gave them the lead. Junior Stephanie Power got control of a deflected ball at the top of the box and fired a 22-yard shot towards the right corner of the goal, but Robens made a diving stab to knock it away.

Neither team had any great scoring chances in the opening half as the two defenses dominated play. Hofstra had a slim 4-2 shot advantage, with its best opportunity coming in the final two minutes of the period when junior Edel Malone’s cross into the box was headed wide by senior Brooke DeRosa.

Hofstra senior defender Sue Weber was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer. She was joined on the all-tournament squad by teammates DeRosa, Malone and Tiffany Yovino. Making the team from VCU were Niman, Bridgit Cooley and Samara Stephen-Dowd. Rounding out the squad were Laura Hertz and Teresa Rynier of James Madison and Mary MacKenzie Grier and Meghan Walker of William & Mary.