Written by Michael Lewis

After Ryan Carmichael put on another clinic on how to score goals in Hofstra University’s 2-1 victory over William and Mary on Sept. 23, head coach Richard Nuttall waxed poetic about his forward.

Carmichael struck for both of the Pride’s goals in the Coastal Athletic Association match.

“I mean, I think the first thing you got to say that Ryan is a unique character,” Nuttall said about the Long Island Rough Riders standout. “Nothing seems to ever faze him, nothing. The second thing you’ve got to say he’s an elite athlete who’s got a tremendous amount of ability.

“I can’t see a better center forward in college soccer than Ryan Carmichael. I can see how they’re marking him and double teaming him all the time. It gives room for other players but he’s still banding two goals today His acceleration to the balls tremendous. He is two footed and his leaping ability is tremendous. He is a great person. Whatever he gets, he deserves. I’m so proud of him.”

Carmichael has enjoyed a stellar season for the Pride (7-1-2), which is ranked 19th among Division I men’s schools.

Through games of Thursday, Sept. 28, the Armagh, Northern Ireland native is one of the top scorers with seven goals. He also has four assists.

Carmichael garnered not one, but two honors this past week, as he was named CAA player of the week and the College Soccer News national player of the week.

He accrued three goals in two contests last week.

Carmichael, who played an integral role in the Rough Riders’ drive to the 2022 USL League Two championship game, enjoyed an amazing seven-game points streak that stretched for a little more than three weeks. During that span, Carmichael tallied six goals and recorded his four assists.

He became the streak by recording a goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory at Providence College on Sept. 1. He set up the lone goal in a 1-0 home win against the University of Pennsylvania three days later. He returned to the goal-scoring column in a 1-1 home draw against Stony Brook University on Sept. 9 before finding the net yet again in a 2-0 home win vs. UMBC on Sept. 12. Four days later, the 5-11, 160-lb. Carmichael assisted on a goal in a 2-2 tie at Campbell before he contributed a goal and an assist in a 3-0 shutout of LIU on Sept. 19.

Not surprisingly, Hofstra went 5-0-2 during that streak.

He has been kept off the board only twice this season, in a 1-0 loss at Fairleigh Dickinson and a 1-0 win vs. Binghamton on Sept. 26.

Carmichael was 2022 the Colonial Athletic Association player of the year and he is on track to repeat that performance this season. If he keeps up that torrid space, Carmichael could see himself earning Division I All-America honors from the United Soccer Coaches come December.