With the regular season winding down, the UNCW men’s soccer team finds itself just one step away from clinching its first Colonial Athletic Association title. The Seahawks have already locked up a spot in the conference’s top two; however, a win over Hofstra in the regular season finale will ensure the Seahawks take the CAA crown as well as gain the ever so important right to host the conference tournament on home soil.

The Seahawks, who have never finished higher than fourth in the CAA, sit atop the conference (fourth in the South Atlantic Region) with a 7-3 CAA record and are hoping to cap a remarkable turnaround from last years 3-8, 10th place finish. “We’re a bit more mature,” Head Coach Aidan Heaney said. “We had so many freshmen last year and made mistakes at key moments of games.”

However, the Seahawks holding the conference’s top spot has come as no surprise to Heaney. “We knew potentially it could be done. We have a great group of guys with hard work ethic which has made it possible,” he said.

A large part of the Seahawks’ success this season must be credited to the offensive firepower provided by strike duo Devan Carroll and Nassim Berhouni. Carroll leads the conference with nine goals, including a stunning hat trick at regionally ranked William & Mary which earned him topdrawersoccer.com’s national Player-of-the-Week honors. In addition, Berhouni has chipped in six goals and two assists.

“It takes time to form a partnership like that but they seem to be on the same page. Devan in particular has been more efficient and cleaner technically,” Heaney said.

With Carroll and Berhouni spearheading the attack, this offense seems to be the most potent of any recent Seahawk teams. “We’re much more dangerous going forward,” Heaney said. “In the past, we haven’t been as dynamic.”

As well as the offense has performed this season, the defense has been equally impressive. During a five-game win streak earlier in the season which vaulted the Seahawks into first place, the defense posted four shutouts and allowed only one goal. “We’ve had a good mentality to defend from the front all year, and Brock [Duckworth] has made some key saves when we needed him,” Heaney said.

With a first round bye in the six-team CAA tournament already clinched, the Seahawks will face Hofstra at home Friday in an effort to host the tournament. Should the Seahawks lose in the season finale, a loss or tie by second-place Old Dominion would also give the Seahawks the title; however, Heaney wants his team to take their destiny into their own hands. “We expect to win. It’s a nice position to be in but there’s still work to be done.”

Heaney also realizes the importance of potentially bringing the CAA tournament to Wilmington. “It would be massive. It would help set a benchmark for our future teams,” he said. “It’s nice to stay home, play in front of your home crowd and it gives us a good shot to go and win it.”

Kickoff for Friday’s match against Hofstra is set for 7 p.m. at the UNCW Soccer Stadium.