Hofstra Men's Lacrosse Inspired By Youngest Member of Team

 Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications

In the midst of the Hofstra men’s lacrosse team’s successful 8-1 season, the Pride are finding inspiration from the newest and youngest members of the program.

Hofstra formerly adopted four-year old Dylan Beach as part of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation (FOJ) prior to its March 26 game against Drexel. Beach battled a brain tumor and is currently in remission. The Pride sticklers decided to get involved with trying to add some joy into his life through the FOJ, an organization based in Quincy, Mass. that matches children in need of love, support and friendship with a college or high school sports team.

“He’s tougher than any guy we’ve got in the locker room,” said Hofstra men’s lacrosse head coach Seth Tierney.

Hofstra men's lacrosse in need of help to make CAA postseason

In the midst of the 15th ranked Hofstra men’s lacrosse team rallying from a 9-6 deficit to achieve a hard fought 14-10 win over Jacksonville Saturday afternoon, an even more dramatic setting in terms of the Pride’s postseason hopes was unfolding three hours away in Suburban Baltimore. In the third quarter Hofstra received some much needed help when Towson held on for a one goal win over Penn  State to momentarily prevent Hofstra’s chances of making the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament from fading.

Hofstra (8-4, 1-3 in the CAA) put itself in the position of needing help from other teams after suffering an 11-10 overtime loss at Penn State a week ago after holding a 7-2 lead late in the first half. Heading into Saturday Hofstra needed three games to go its way to give the Pride a chance to control its own destiny in the regular season finale against Towson on May 1. Hofstra received some much needed help from Towson Saturday afternoon and the coaches and players will be closely keeping track of the Drexel-Delaware game at 7 p.m. Saturday night hoping that the Dragons can aide the Pride’s postseason chances. The combination of a Drexel win tonight and a Delaware victory at Penn State on Friday would put Hofstra in position where it could clinch a CAA playoff spot by simply beating first place Towson in one week at home.

Hofstra men's lacrosse wins crucial CAA game over Delaware in first event at New Meadowlands Stadium

Saturday afternoon provided the unique opportunity for the Hofstra men’s lacrosse team to take part in the first event at the New Meadowlands Stadium but more importantly the contest versus Delaware was a must-win Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game to maintain hopes of reaching the conference playoffs. After dropping its first two CAA games the Pride played with a sense of urgency against Delaware posting a 12-11 win to keep its postseason hopes very much alive with three weeks left in the regular season.

“Hofstra lacrosse lives to see another day with the destiny in their own hands,” said a relieved Hofstra men’s lacrosse head coach Seth Tierney after his team held on for a one goal win after leading 12-8 with less than seven minutes left in the game. “They knew what was on the line and they know what is on the line.”

The win over Delaware moves Hofstra (7-3, 1-2 in CAA) into fourth place in the conference standings with key contests at Penn State next week and home versus Towson on May 1 in the rear view mirror. The top four in the six-team CAA reach the conference playoffs for the right to capture league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, something Hofstra has never failed to achieve.

Return of Jay Card aids Hofstra men's lacrosse blowout win over Army

One week after suffering an ankle injury during a 13-4 win at St. John’s, Hofstra junior attackman Jay Card had a triumphant return to the lacrosse field against Army. Card scored five goals and dished out eight assists to lead eighth ranked Hofstra to a 17-2 blowout over Army before a rain soaked crowd of 1,073 at Shuart Stadium.

“It’s a little sore but I give all the credit to our trainer Robert Sullivan,” said Card in the post game press conference of his recovery from last week’s injury. “He did a great job getting me back on the field in less than a week.”

Card’s return to the Hofstra offense came after missing last Saturday’s 11-9 loss at Massachusetts in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener. Having Card back into the offensive mix is critical for Hofstra (5-2) as it next faces a crucial CAA road game at 11th ranked Drexel on Saturday.