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Action-packed lacrosse coming to Hofstra
Local lacrosse fans will find an abundance of action at Hofstra University's Shuart Stadium during the next three months. The Hofstra men's and women's teams kicked off a combined 15-game home schedule on Feb. 21. Then, in mid-May, the lacrosse world will converge at Shuart Stadium as it becomes the hub of the lacrosse universe when it hosts the NCAA Quarterfinals.
When teams take to the field on May 16, at noon, it will have been seven years since Hofstra's 13,000 seat stadium played host to the college lacrosse quarterfinals. The post-season action features four teams trying to punch their ticket to "Championship Weekend" in Foxborough, Mass. In 1999 and 2001 when Hofstra played in the quarterfinals against Johns Hopkins and Syracuse, Shuart Stadium record crowds of 12,222 and 10,500 attended.
But first up for lacrosse fans, attention turns to the current schedule. With an experienced core of players returning in 2009 following a Colonial Athletic Association title and NCAA Tournament berth, Hofstra has the ability to be playing on its home field in the quarterfinals with a chance to reach its first Final Four. The quest to reach the NCAA tourney for a second straight year began this past Saturday with the Pride defeating long time nemesis Massachusetts 11-10 on a goal by sophomore attackman Jay Card with four seconds left.
Hofstra's schedule is stacked against some of the top lacrosse programs in the country including home tilts against Princeton on March 14 at 1 p.m. and North Carolina on Apr. 18 at 7 p.m., both ranked in the pre-season top 10. On March 14, "High School Day, " all high school lacrosse players receive free admission. (To obtain free admission, all high school coaches must fax their official rosters to (516) 463-4608, by noon on March 13. The Apr. 18 match will be highlighted by the jersey retirements of Doug Shanahan (#26) and Jerry Simandl (#10). Shanahan captured the inaugural Tewaaraton Award given to the nation's top lacrosse player in 2001, while Simandl starred at Hofstra from 1953-1955.
"When we make a schedule I don't want to shy away from anybody," said Hofstra head lacrosse coach Seth Tierney, of his team facing the nation's top programs.
Hofstra's home schedule also includes a battle against Long Island rival Stony Brook on Apr. 21 at 7 p.m. as well as key conference games against Robert Morris on March 28 at Noon, Drexel on Apr. 8 at 7 p.m. and Villanova on Apr. 25 at 7 p.m. Hofstra will also have an opportunity to play at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. against CAA rival Delaware on Apr. 4 at 5 p.m. as part of the inaugural Inside Lacrosse Big City Classic triple header. That match also features Virginia vs. North Carolina and Syracuse against Princeton.
"It's a great opportunity for our program," said Coach Tierney, of the chance to play at Giants Stadium.
Four Pride players were named to the Pre-Season All Colonial Athletic Association team including junior goalie Danny Orlando, a former standout at South Side High School in Rockville Centre. Joining Orlando as pre-season all conference selections are Card, last year's CAA rookie of the year after scoring 27 goals, senior midfielder Anthony Muscarella (28 goals last year) and long stick middie Steve Prifte.
Hofstra Women's In Action
The Hofstra women's lacrosse team fell one win shy in 2008 of reaching the CAA playoffs and getting a chance to defend their 2007 title. The Pride were picked by the CAA coaches to finish fifth in 2009, but head coach Abby Morgan knows that with the parity in the league predictions mean very little.
"We expect ourselves to be in that tournament and to be in contention to win every year," said Coach Morgan, who returns six seniors and over a dozen juniors from last year's 7-9 team.
Four of the Pride's key returning players are junior attackman Corrine Gandolfi, sophomore attackman Stephanie Rice, senior midfielder Lauren Whitcomb and senior defenseman Alysse Ruszkowski, who all received CAA Preseason All-Conference accolades. Hofstra finished 4-3 in the CAA last year, which left them tied for fourth place and only one game back of first place but still out of luck when it came to qualifying for the CAA playoffs.
"Last year was absolute madness," said Coach Morgan of how close the CAA standings were. "I think it will continue to be that way with our conference because of its compositeness."
Hofstra kicked off its 2009 season with an 18-5 romp over Iona on Feb. 21 and a tilt against Connecticut on Feb. 25 after press time. Some of the other highlights in Hofstra's home schedule includes tilts against Ivy League power Cornell on March 7 at 1 p.m., local Long Island rival Stony Brook on March 25 at 7 p.m. and clashes against CAA rivals James Madison on Apr. 3 at 7 p.m. and Towson on Apr. 10 at 4 p.m. All regular season Hofstra women's lacrosse games are free to the public.
"We have some great teams coming to the island," said Coach Morgan of the home schedule.
For further information on the Hofstra men's and women's lacrosse schedule call 516-463-TIXX or log onto www.hofstra.edu/athletics.
Comments on this story? 516-569-4000 x284 or kbloom@liherald.com.
Action-packed lacrosse coming to Hofstra
Local lacrosse fans will find an abundance of action at Hofstra University's Shuart Stadium during the next three months. The Hofstra men's and women's teams kicked off a combined 15-game home schedule on Feb. 21. Then, in mid-May, the lacrosse world will converge at Shuart Stadium as it becomes the hub of the lacrosse universe when it hosts the NCAA Quarterfinals.
When teams take to the field on May 16, at noon, it will have been seven years since Hofstra's 13,000 seat stadium played host to the college lacrosse quarterfinals. The post-season action features four teams trying to punch their ticket to "Championship Weekend" in Foxborough, Mass. In 1999 and 2001 when Hofstra played in the quarterfinals against Johns Hopkins and Syracuse, Shuart Stadium record crowds of 12,222 and 10,500 attended.
But first up for lacrosse fans, attention turns to the current schedule. With an experienced core of players returning in 2009 following a Colonial Athletic Association title and NCAA Tournament berth, Hofstra has the ability to be playing on its home field in the quarterfinals with a chance to reach its first Final Four. The quest to reach the NCAA tourney for a second straight year began this past Saturday with the Pride defeating long time nemesis Massachusetts 11-10 on a goal by sophomore attackman Jay Card with four seconds left.
Hofstra's schedule is stacked against some of the top lacrosse programs in the country including home tilts against Princeton on March 14 at 1 p.m. and North Carolina on Apr. 18 at 7 p.m., both ranked in the pre-season top 10. On March 14, "High School Day, " all high school lacrosse players receive free admission. (To obtain free admission, all high school coaches must fax their official rosters to (516) 463-4608, by noon on March 13. The Apr. 18 match will be highlighted by the jersey retirements of Doug Shanahan (#26) and Jerry Simandl (#10). Shanahan captured the inaugural Tewaaraton Award given to the nation's top lacrosse player in 2001, while Simandl starred at Hofstra from 1953-1955.
"When we make a schedule I don't want to shy away from anybody," said Hofstra head lacrosse coach Seth Tierney, of his team facing the nation's top programs.
Hofstra's home schedule also includes a battle against Long Island rival Stony Brook on Apr. 21 at 7 p.m. as well as key conference games against Robert Morris on March 28 at Noon, Drexel on Apr. 8 at 7 p.m. and Villanova on Apr. 25 at 7 p.m. Hofstra will also have an opportunity to play at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. against CAA rival Delaware on Apr. 4 at 5 p.m. as part of the inaugural Inside Lacrosse Big City Classic triple header. That match also features Virginia vs. North Carolina and Syracuse against Princeton.
"It's a great opportunity for our program," said Coach Tierney, of the chance to play at Giants Stadium.
Four Pride players were named to the Pre-Season All Colonial Athletic Association team including junior goalie Danny Orlando, a former standout at South Side High School in Rockville Centre. Joining Orlando as pre-season all conference selections are Card, last year's CAA rookie of the year after scoring 27 goals, senior midfielder Anthony Muscarella (28 goals last year) and long stick middie Steve Prifte.
Hofstra Women's In Action
The Hofstra women's lacrosse team fell one win shy in 2008 of reaching the CAA playoffs and getting a chance to defend their 2007 title. The Pride were picked by the CAA coaches to finish fifth in 2009, but head coach Abby Morgan knows that with the parity in the league predictions mean very little.
"We expect ourselves to be in that tournament and to be in contention to win every year," said Coach Morgan, who returns six seniors and over a dozen juniors from last year's 7-9 team.
Four of the Pride's key returning players are junior attackman Corrine Gandolfi, sophomore attackman Stephanie Rice, senior midfielder Lauren Whitcomb and senior defenseman Alysse Ruszkowski, who all received CAA Preseason All-Conference accolades. Hofstra finished 4-3 in the CAA last year, which left them tied for fourth place and only one game back of first place but still out of luck when it came to qualifying for the CAA playoffs.
"Last year was absolute madness," said Coach Morgan of how close the CAA standings were. "I think it will continue to be that way with our conference because of its compositeness."
Hofstra kicked off its 2009 season with an 18-5 romp over Iona on Feb. 21 and a tilt against Connecticut on Feb. 25 after press time. Some of the other highlights in Hofstra's home schedule includes tilts against Ivy League power Cornell on March 7 at 1 p.m., local Long Island rival Stony Brook on March 25 at 7 p.m. and clashes against CAA rivals James Madison on Apr. 3 at 7 p.m. and Towson on Apr. 10 at 4 p.m. All regular season Hofstra women's lacrosse games are free to the public.
"We have some great teams coming to the island," said Coach Morgan of the home schedule.
For further information on the Hofstra men's and women's lacrosse schedule call 516-463-TIXX or log onto www.hofstra.edu/athletics.
Comments on this story? 516-569-4000 x284 or kbloom@liherald.com.
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