After finishing an overall disappointing 2011 season on a positive note with a come-from-behind 9-8 win over Drexel Thursday afternoon, Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan expressed optimism for 2012.
A major reason for Morgan’s positive outlook is the solid production of many of her younger players late in the season. During the win over Drexel in which Hofstra rallied from a 8-5 deficit to score the final four goals, 11 of the Pride’s 13 points came from freshmen and sophomores. The win over Drexel ended Hofstra’s season at 6-10 overall and 2-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association.
“Obviously we would have loved to have seen a couple more wins on the board but the future is bright for our program in these young players,” said Morgan. "I think we have a lot to look forward to."
Showing posts with label Abby Morgan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abby Morgan. Show all posts
2/10/11
Hofstra women's lacrosse uses last year's disappointment as fuel for 2011 season
Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications
As the Hofstra women’s lacrosse teams gears up for a new season, last year's disappointment of several close losses to ranked teams that all made the NCAA Tournament, which the Pride missed out on, still lingers and is serving as a key motivator for the 2011 campaign.
The 2010 NCAA Tournament bracket is plastered on the Pride’a locker room as a reminder of the team’s ultimate goal. Circled on the paper are all the tournament teams Hofstra lost close games to including (Penn, Notre Dame, Stanford and Towson). Hofstra finished 2010 12-6 with a 10-6 loss to James Madison in the Colonial Athletic Association title game and head coach Abby Morgan believes a win in any of the Pride’ many heart-breaking losses to ranked teams could have made the difference in her team reaching the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection.
“They don’t forget it,” said Morgan, whose team returns four starters and is ranked 20th to open the season “We talk about it giving us fuel.”
Hofstra will have plenty of opportunities register signature wins against quality teams starting with this Wednesday’s opener against 19th ranked Boston College. In all Hofstra has 10 games scheduled against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the preseason top 20 poll including home contests versus Notre Dame, Penn, James Madison and Towson.
The 2010 NCAA Tournament bracket is plastered on the Pride’a locker room as a reminder of the team’s ultimate goal. Circled on the paper are all the tournament teams Hofstra lost close games to including (Penn, Notre Dame, Stanford and Towson). Hofstra finished 2010 12-6 with a 10-6 loss to James Madison in the Colonial Athletic Association title game and head coach Abby Morgan believes a win in any of the Pride’ many heart-breaking losses to ranked teams could have made the difference in her team reaching the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection.
“They don’t forget it,” said Morgan, whose team returns four starters and is ranked 20th to open the season “We talk about it giving us fuel.”
Hofstra will have plenty of opportunities register signature wins against quality teams starting with this Wednesday’s opener against 19th ranked Boston College. In all Hofstra has 10 games scheduled against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the preseason top 20 poll including home contests versus Notre Dame, Penn, James Madison and Towson.
11/2/10
Hofstra women's lacrosse holds fundraiser for program featuring numerous youth teams
The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team hosted its second of two 2010 fall festivals this past Halloween weekend featuring numerous youth girls lacrosse teams from the New York City region who picked up their sticks to raise money for the Pride program.
For the last decade the Hofstra women’s lacrosse program has been holding fall festivals as fundraisers featuring seven-on-seven games of players from both youth and high schools teams from throughout the metropolitan area. The participation fees paid by each player for the festivals, which this year were held on the weekends of Sept. 18 and 19 and Oct. 30 and 31, goes to benefit the Hofstra women’s lacrosse program. Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan said for each weekend festival there are about 600 players who participate.
“It is really great because everyone just has a great time,” said Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan. “It is always a great event.”
Pride women’s lacrosse players took part in officiating the many games that were held on Hofstra's north campus intramural fields. Hofstra players also held a clinics as part of the festivities.
Morgan said in addition to raising money for her program the fall festivals are also a great chance to expose Hofstra to some of the area’s top players, which can prove to be advantageous when it comes to recruiting. Each player who participated in the fall festivals received a Hofstra women’s lacrosse t-shirt.
“It is great to have the local high schools on campus and the club teams and they all get to see what Hofstra is all about,” said Morgan. “It is good exposure for us as a school.”
For the last decade the Hofstra women’s lacrosse program has been holding fall festivals as fundraisers featuring seven-on-seven games of players from both youth and high schools teams from throughout the metropolitan area. The participation fees paid by each player for the festivals, which this year were held on the weekends of Sept. 18 and 19 and Oct. 30 and 31, goes to benefit the Hofstra women’s lacrosse program. Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan said for each weekend festival there are about 600 players who participate.
“It is really great because everyone just has a great time,” said Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan. “It is always a great event.”
Pride women’s lacrosse players took part in officiating the many games that were held on Hofstra's north campus intramural fields. Hofstra players also held a clinics as part of the festivities.
Morgan said in addition to raising money for her program the fall festivals are also a great chance to expose Hofstra to some of the area’s top players, which can prove to be advantageous when it comes to recruiting. Each player who participated in the fall festivals received a Hofstra women’s lacrosse t-shirt.
“It is great to have the local high schools on campus and the club teams and they all get to see what Hofstra is all about,” said Morgan. “It is good exposure for us as a school.”
10/29/10
Hofstra lacrosse teams continue to honor Nick Colleluori through fall events
Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications
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| The Hofstra women's lacrosse team with the Colleluori family. |
The fourth annual Nick Colleluori Classic at Ridley High School in suburban Philadelphia, which featured 20 men’s lacrosse teams including Hofstra, is estimated to have raised around $250,000. The second annual Nick Colleluori Women’s Lacrosse Classic held on Sept. 25 at Hofstra raised over $42,000. Both of these charity events are aimed at raising money for blood cancer research and to keep alive the memory alive of Colleluori, a former Hofstra men’s lacrosse defenseman who passed away from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on Nov. 28, 2006 at the age of 21 after a courageous 14-month battle with the disease.
“It is great for our players to see what they can do and how lacrosse can change things outside of just the lacrosse world,” said Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan.
5/2/10
Hofstra women's lacrosse gearing up for CAA Tournament
One of Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan’s chief goals for the 2010 season was to qualify her team for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament, something the Pride just missed out on the last two years after winning the conference title in 2007. That mission has been accomplished and now attention has turned to making the NCAA Tournament by winning the CAAs next week.
Sixteen ranked Hofstra (11-5, 5-2 in CAA) will be the three seed and be matched up against eighth ranked Towson on Thursday May 6 at 7:30 p.m. on the campus ofJames Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. A win by Hofstra Thursday would send the Pride to the CAA title game on Saturday May 8 against either seventh ranked James Madison or William & Mary with an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament at stake.
Sixteen ranked Hofstra (11-5, 5-2 in CAA) will be the three seed and be matched up against eighth ranked Towson on Thursday May 6 at 7:30 p.m. on the campus of
4/23/10
Hofstra women's lacrosse stays focused in blowout over Delaware
Since the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) season began in early April Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan has preached the importance of never looking ahead. On Friday afternoon that one game at a time focus was evident as despite playing a Delaware team with a losing record two days before facing 10th ranked Towson, the Pride showed no signs of overconfidence during a dominating 15-6 win.
Sixteenth ranked Hofstra (10-4, 4-1 in CAA) had nine different scorers and dominated from the get-go against Delaware (5-10, 2-4 in CAA) not allowing a goal for the first 18:13 of the game. The win keeps Hofstra near the top of the CAA standings heading into Sunday’s critical road game at Towson.
Sixteenth ranked Hofstra (10-4, 4-1 in CAA) had nine different scorers and dominated from the get-go against Delaware (5-10, 2-4 in CAA) not allowing a goal for the first 18:13 of the game. The win keeps Hofstra near the top of the CAA standings heading into Sunday’s critical road game at Towson.
“It is a good confidence boost, for us” said Morgan, whose
4/11/10
Hofstra women's lacrosse dominates Old Dominion
A major key to the 16th ranked Hofstra women’s lacrosse team ’s success in 2010 has been draw controls with the Pride fifth in the nation at grabbing these crucial possessions entering Sunday’s game against Old Dominion. Hofstra’s success on draws continued against the Monarchs with the Pride dominating this key statistical category 20-6 in a 16-8 home win to improve to 7-3 and 2-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).
Part of Hofstra’s success in being able to gaining processions after goals has been the versatility of being able to deploy multiple players to take draws depending on matchups. Against Old Dominion Hofstra had 10 players win draw controls led by senior attacker Corrine Gandolfi with six. Morgan credits Hofstra’s success in this category to her assistant coach Tanya Kotowicz, who as a player at Connecticut was second on the Huskies in draw controls during her senior year in 2005.
“She has taught these girls, 'OK this setup against this draw, this is what you do, this is where you put the people on the outside,” said Morgan of Kotowicz. “She is awesome at it.”
Part of Hofstra’s success in being able to gaining processions after goals has been the versatility of being able to deploy multiple players to take draws depending on matchups. Against Old Dominion Hofstra had 10 players win draw controls led by senior attacker Corrine Gandolfi with six. Morgan credits Hofstra’s success in this category to her assistant coach Tanya Kotowicz, who as a player at Connecticut was second on the Huskies in draw controls during her senior year in 2005.
“She has taught these girls, 'OK this setup against this draw, this is what you do, this is where you put the people on the outside,” said Morgan of Kotowicz. “She is awesome at it.”
4/9/10
Hofstra women's lacrosse wins CAA opener over William & Mary
Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan made a game time decision in the Pride’s Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener Friday night to start senior Mary Cuddihy in net over sophomore Jackie Pandolf. The move paid major dividends as Cuddihy recorded seven saves in the first half and nine for the game to help 16th ranked Hofstra (7-3, 1-0 in CAA) build a comfortable lead in route to a 15-7 win over 19th ranked William & Mary (6-5, 0-1 in CAA).
Cuddihy gave up a goal on William & Mary’s first shot 29 seconds into the game but went on to stonewall the Tribe for the next 32:74. “She played really well,” said Morgan.
Despite Cuddihy’s solid play in net Friday night Morgan is not set to name the Manhasset High School product her starter for the CAA season and will continue the competitive goalie battle that has existed thus far in 2010. “We’ll see how [Cuddihy] does tomorrow in practice,” said Morgan. “That is how day to day it is.”
Cuddihy gave up a goal on William & Mary’s first shot 29 seconds into the game but went on to stonewall the Tribe for the next 32:74. “She played really well,” said Morgan.
Despite Cuddihy’s solid play in net Friday night Morgan is not set to name the Manhasset High School product her starter for the CAA season and will continue the competitive goalie battle that has existed thus far in 2010. “We’ll see how [Cuddihy] does tomorrow in practice,” said Morgan. “That is how day to day it is.”
3/27/10
Hofstra women's lacrosse team staying focused after 6-2 start
The Hofstra women’s lacrosse is heading into its final non-conference game at Stanford this Wednesday 6-2 but despite the solid start which has included wins at Cornell and a triumph over then 19th ranked Rutgers, head coach Abby Morgan is not allowing herself to be satisfied.
“I do feel like we’re continuing to improve and we’re moving upwards… but you can’t get to a point where you’re OK, you can’t get to a point where you’re satisfied,” said Morgan. “As soon as you rest on your laurels a little bit you’re going to get beat.”
Hofstra’s two early season losses came by one goal to then eighth ranked Notre Dame 13-12 and fourth ranked Penn 7-6. Had Hofstra pulled off one of those games the Pride would be in prime position for an at large berth to the NCAA playoffs. If Hofstra can win at Stanford this Wednesday the Pride would be back in position for an at-large should it not be able to capture the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title, but Morgan is not allowing herteam to think about playoff possibilities as conference season nears.
“I do feel like we’re continuing to improve and we’re moving upwards… but you can’t get to a point where you’re OK, you can’t get to a point where you’re satisfied,” said Morgan. “As soon as you rest on your laurels a little bit you’re going to get beat.”
Hofstra’s two early season losses came by one goal to then eighth ranked Notre Dame 13-12 and fourth ranked Penn 7-6. Had Hofstra pulled off one of those games the Pride would be in prime position for an at large berth to the NCAA playoffs. If Hofstra can win at Stanford this Wednesday the Pride would be back in position for an at-large should it not be able to capture the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title, but Morgan is not allowing her
2/20/10
Hofstra women's lacrosse posts blowout over St. Mary's (Calif.) in tuneup for Notre Dame
Despite having a highly anticipated matchup against eighth ranked Notre Dame this Tuesday the Hofstra women ’s lacrosse team showed no signs of looking ahead to the Fighting Irish in its opening game Saturday against St. Mary ’s (Calif.). After falling behind 2-0 the Pride scored 19 straight goals in route to a 21-3 win that head coach Abby Morgan hopes gets her team adequately prepared for a stiff test in just three days.
When the Hofstra-Notre Dame game was initially conceived on the schedule the Fighting Irish wanted to make it as the Pride’s opener but Morgan made sure herteam would at least have one game under their belt before taking on a top 10 program. Morgan is hopeful that Saturday’s St. Mary ’s game, which featured 11 different Hofstra scorers, combined with scrimmages against Brown and Dartmouth last weekend will give the Pride the needed preparation to pull off an upset win against the Irish.
“I think that we’re a little bit more prepared for playing Notre Dame,” said Morgan of how important it was to schedule two scrimmages and one game prior to Tuesday’s big showdown. “It is nice to have that confidence going in.”
When the Hofstra-Notre Dame game was initially conceived on the schedule the Fighting Irish wanted to make it as the Pride’s opener but Morgan made sure her
“I think that we’re a little bit more prepared for playing Notre Dame,” said Morgan of how important it was to schedule two scrimmages and one game prior to Tuesday’s big showdown. “It is nice to have that confidence going in.”
2/17/10
Hofstra women's lacrosse eager for start of 2010 season this Saturday
After barely missing out on the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) playoffs the last two years, the Hofstra women 's lacrosse team is ramped up to hit the Shuart Stadium turf for its opener against St. Mary 's College (Calif.) this Saturday. The motivation to make certain that 2010 does not end without post-season play will be especially on the minds of eight Pride seniors who got a taste of being in the NCAA Tournament as freshman in 2007.
"It is interesting to think about the seniors of that 07 squad, their freshman year they didn't make the CAA Tournament, their sophomore and junior year they were in the championship game and lost," said fourth-year Hofstrawomen 's lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan of how this years seniors much like the ones three years ago had experienced back-to-back years of major disappointment heading into the end of their college women 's lacrosse careers. "The third time hopefully is the charm for us to do what we're supposed to do in the CAA conference."
Two returning veterans earned preseason All-CAA honors including senior midfielder Corrine Gandolfi and junior defender Katie Hertsch. Gandolfi is coming off a third-team All-America junior season that saw her score 45 goals and 25 assists while Hertsch recorded 36 ground balls and 30 draw controls.
"It is interesting to think about the seniors of that 07 squad, their freshman year they didn't make the CAA Tournament, their sophomore and junior year they were in the championship game and lost," said fourth-year Hofstra
Two returning veterans earned preseason All-CAA honors including senior midfielder Corrine Gandolfi and junior defender Katie Hertsch. Gandolfi is coming off a third-
10/27/09
Hofstra lacrosse teams keep Nick Colleluori's spirit alive through 2 fall events
Picture courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications
The Hofstra women's lacrosse team with the Colleluori family
at the first-ever Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic
The Hofstra men’s and women’s lacrosse teams recently took part in two separate Nick Colleluori Classics that combined raised over $200,000 aimed at helping find a cure for blood cancer.The first-ever Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic held on Sept. 26 at Shuart Stadium raised $32,000 while the men’s event that took place at Ridley High School in suburban Philadelphia on Oct. 10 and 11 is estimated by the HEADstrong Foundation to surpass over $180,000. Both of these charity events are aimed at raising money for blood cancer research and to keep alive the memory of former Hofstra men’s lacrosse defenseman Nick Colleluori, who passed away from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on Nov. 28, 2006 at the age of 21. The inspirational story of Colleluori’s courageous 14-month cancer battle as well as the efforts by family, friends and the lacrosse community to fight this deadly disease and honor his legacy through the HEADstrong Foundation were featured in an article written by ESPN.com's Patrick Carney yesterday.
Hofstra women's lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan was honored to be able to help organize the first Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic, which featured 12 teams who each sold 150 HEADstrong t-shirts that together helped raise $27,000. "It was great exposure for the [HEADstrong Foundation] on the women's side," said Coach Morgan of the first Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic, which she hopes to see expanded to 16 teams next year.
Since the inaugural Nick Colleluori Men's Lacrosse Classic was held in 2007 at Nick's amla mater Ridley High School, the annual event has raised $405,000 for the HEADstrong Foundation. "I am thrilled to see where the HEADstrong Foundation has grown today," said Hofstra men's lacrosse head coach Seth Tierney. "This is about keeping Nick's memory and spirit alive."
10/15/09
Hofstra women’s lacrosse uses fall season to bolster team chemistry
The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team has been hard at work both on and off the field during the fall season, as in addition to intense practices and 18 games head coach Abby Morgan has had her players heavily concentrate on developing solid team chemistry heading into 2010.
With nine freshmen on Coach Morgan’s roster, team building activities such as matching up each freshman with an older “sister” and having each player create a shoe box to include writings on their life and lacrosse goals, have been heavily emphasized during fall ball. “Getting the players to learn more about each other is something that we have really tried to stress,” said Morgan. “For the fall it’s really about getting everyone comfortable with each other.”
Hofstra’s 2010 team will feature six seniors who reached the NCAA Tournament as freshmen in 2007 and just missed out on the Colonial Athletic Association playoffs the last two seasons. The Pride have had to hold most of their fall practices without three of these key seniors including Corrine Gandolfi, Bryana Borrelli and Jenn Olson, who along with junior Bettina Mianulli are student-teaching this semester. As a sign of the team’s determination to succeed, the foursome have been waking up at 5 a.m. for lifting before heading out to teach and many teammates have joined them for their extra-early-morning weight training.
Coach Morgan has tried to organize practice schedules around the student-teaching conflicts but she added that the missed time of these vocal leaders has led to some positives for the other players. “It has kind of opened the door to our quieter players to step up and be leaders,” she said.
Hofstra loses defensive leaders Alysse Ruszkowski and Lauren Whitcomb but returns several offensive weapons including Gandolfi, who led the Pride in scoring with 45 goals and 25 assists, Liz Falco (29 goals) Stephanie Rice (23 goals) and Ashley Jones (19 goals). The fall season has featured diverse offensive production including 15 different scorers in Hofstra’s four games during the Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic on Sept. 26. “Our issue won’t be the weapons that we have but how do we have utilize them as a team,” said Morgan.
With nine freshmen on Coach Morgan’s roster, team building activities such as matching up each freshman with an older “sister” and having each player create a shoe box to include writings on their life and lacrosse goals, have been heavily emphasized during fall ball. “Getting the players to learn more about each other is something that we have really tried to stress,” said Morgan. “For the fall it’s really about getting everyone comfortable with each other.”
Hofstra’s 2010 team will feature six seniors who reached the NCAA Tournament as freshmen in 2007 and just missed out on the Colonial Athletic Association playoffs the last two seasons. The Pride have had to hold most of their fall practices without three of these key seniors including Corrine Gandolfi, Bryana Borrelli and Jenn Olson, who along with junior Bettina Mianulli are student-teaching this semester. As a sign of the team’s determination to succeed, the foursome have been waking up at 5 a.m. for lifting before heading out to teach and many teammates have joined them for their extra-early-morning weight training.
Coach Morgan has tried to organize practice schedules around the student-teaching conflicts but she added that the missed time of these vocal leaders has led to some positives for the other players. “It has kind of opened the door to our quieter players to step up and be leaders,” she said.
Hofstra loses defensive leaders Alysse Ruszkowski and Lauren Whitcomb but returns several offensive weapons including Gandolfi, who led the Pride in scoring with 45 goals and 25 assists, Liz Falco (29 goals) Stephanie Rice (23 goals) and Ashley Jones (19 goals). The fall season has featured diverse offensive production including 15 different scorers in Hofstra’s four games during the Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic on Sept. 26. “Our issue won’t be the weapons that we have but how do we have utilize them as a team,” said Morgan.
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