Freshman Attacker Already Stepping Up Big For Hofstra Women's Lacrosse

 Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications

Hofstra freshman woman’s lacrosse attacker Lindsay McKinnon has not been playing like someone who is still adjusting to the collegiate level.

The Fairport, N.Y native, who is only a year removed from earning high school All-American honors, has registered seven points in the Hofstra’s last two victories over Notre Dame and Fairfield to help give the Pride (4-5) momentum heading into Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. None of McKinnon’s points was any bigger than her free position goal with 7.8 seconds left against the 17th-ranked Fighting Irish that propelled Hofstra to a come-from-behind 9-8 win over a team the Pride had lost three games to by a combined four goals from 2008-2010. McKinnon’s heroics against Notre Dame earned her CAA Rookie of the Week accolades.

Olivia Galati Following Up Stellar Freshman Campaign With More Dominance in Circle

 Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications

After a stellar freshman season that saw her garner Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie of the Year Honors, Hofstra softball pitcher Olivia Galati has certainly not had a sophomore slump and instead has become an even more dominant force in the circle.

Galati earned her third CAA Softball Pitcher of Week honor this past Monday after recording two complete-game victories over Connecticut to help the Pride capture the Hyatt Place Invitational at Hofstra Softball Stadium last weekend. In her last six appearances Galati has been on fire with 56 strikeouts and no walks while helping to lead the Pride to wins over Michigan State, Purdue, Buffalo and Connecticut. Scoring has been hard to come by against Galati all season with the sophomore boasting a 1.36 earned run average (ERA) in 15 appearances on the mound.

Hofstra women's lacrosse vs. Notre Dame in-game blog

After three straight years of close heartbreaking defeats to Notre Dame, the Hofstra women’s lacrosse team will have another chance to finally break through the Fighting Irish hex this Sunday at Noon.

Hofstra (3-5) is seeking its second straight win after defeating Fairfield 15-6 last Saturday. Seventeenth-ranked Notre Dame  (3-4) enters Shuart Stadium  after dropping a tough 6-5 double overtime game to Cornell.  In three games against Notre Dame from 2008-2010, the Pride lost each of them by a combined four goals.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra-Notre Dame game 15 minutes before the opening draw Sunday at 11:45 a.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

Hofstra men's lacrosse vs. Drexel in-game blog

The Hofstra men’s lacrosse team hosts Drexel Saturday afternoon in a critical Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game for both teams.

Hofstra (6-1, 0-1 in CAA)  will look to even up its conference record after falling at Delaware 7-6 in the league opener last Saturday. Last year Hofstra fell at Drexel in a game that dropped it to 0-2 in the CAA and eventually led to the Pride missing the conference playoffs. Hofstra rebounded from its loss at Delaware with an 8-5 home win over St. John’s Tuesday night.

 Drexel  (5-3, 1-0 in CAA) arrives at Shuart Stadium  winners of four straight including  a 18-5 romp over Lafayette on Tuesday. Early in the season Drexel lost close games to nationally-ranked Virginia, Notre Dame and Villanova., The Dragons boast one of the top goalies in the nation in Mark Manos.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra-Drexel game 15 minutes before faceoff Saturday at 12:45 p.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

Hofstra men's lacrosse vs. St. John's in-game blog

The eighth-ranked Hofstra men’s lacrosse team will try and rebound from its first loss of the season this past Saturday against local Big East foe St. John’s Tuesday night.

The Pride (5-1) lost a narrow 7-6 game at Delaware in its Colonial Athletic Association opener. It will be only the second meeting between Hofstra and St. John’s, which are located just 20 miles from each other, since the Red Storm reinstated their program in 2004 and the first at Shuart Stadium. St. John's has lost five in a row since a season-opening 16-7 win at Holy Cross.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra-St. John’s game 15 minutes before faceoff Tuesday evening at 6:45 p.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

Saturday's Hofstra-Columbia Game To Feature Pride Softball Reunion

When the Hofstra softball team takes the field against Columbia Saturday morning for its home opener in the Hyatt Place Invitational, there will be two familiar faces in the opposing dugout.

The Columbia head coach is former Hofstra softball player Kayla Noonan, who was a four-year catcher for the then Flying Dutchwomen in the late 90’s. The Lion’s assistant coach Adrienne Clark is also familiar to Pride fans, as she was a key pitcher for Hofstra during its run to three straight NCAA Tournaments from 2003-2005.

Hofstra women's lacrosse vs. Fairfield in-game blog

The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team will try and get back on the winning track in a home game against Fairfield Saturday afternoon.

Hofstra (2-5) has dropped four in a row including a heartbreaking 10-9 double-overtime loss at Rutgers last Saturday. The Pride have been led offensively by sophomore midfielder Jill Maier with 18 goals. A bright spot on defense has been sophomore goalie Jackie Pandolf, who has 83 saves in the Pride’s first seven games.

Fairfield (5-2) is coming off a come-from-behind 13-12 win at Lehigh in which the Stags rallied from an 11-6 second half deficit. Fairfield also gave 10th-ranked and future Hofstra opponent James Madison quite the scare in a narrow 13-10 loss on March 5.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra-Fairfield game 15 minutes before the opening draw Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

Hofstra Softball Battle Tested for Start of Its Home and Conference Schedule

After a challenging first month of the season playing 18 games down south against some of the nation’s top softball programs, Hofstra head coach Bill Edwards said his team is very well prepared for a run at a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title and the start of its home schedule this weekend.

In addition to playing many top-notch teams, Hofstra was met with further challenges off the field to start the year including many flights and weather delays. Hofstra (10-8) capped its grueling first month of the season on the road winning four of five games at the Florida Atlantic Invitational over Middle Tennessee State, Michigan State, Purdue and Buffalo. The Pride’s early season non-conference slate also included impressive wins over Virginia and Florida State at the Seminole Kickoff Classic from Feb. 11-13.

“It was an exhausting tournament schedule to start the year off,” said Edwards, whose teams have traditionally opened the beginning of the season in warmer weather before starting the home schedule in late March. “They were very tiring and exhausting trips.”

Hofstra men's lacrosse vs. Air Force live in-game blog

The Hofstra men’s lacrosse team will look to stay high atop the national rankings when it takes the field against Air Force Sunday afternoon.

The fourth-ranked Pride enter Sunday’s game at 4-0 with a chance to match its best start since 1997. Hofstra is coming off two wins against Ivy League opponents Princeton and Harvard.

Hofstra has a 7-0 record against Air Force but the programs have not met since 2000. Air Force lands on Long Island at 1-4 and coming off a 6-4 loss at Fairfield Friday night.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra-Air Force men’s lacrosse game 15 minutes before faceoff Sunday at 11:45 a.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

UNC Transfer Ian Braddish Finding Role in Hofstra Lacrosse Offense

 Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications

Four games into his Hofstra lacrosse career after transferring from the University of North Carolina (UNC), midfielder Ian Braddish is starting to find his role in the fourth-ranked Pride’s explosive offense.

Braddish had a breakout game during a 15-9 win against Harvard last Saturday scoring two goals in his only two shots of the contest. The 6’2 185 pound sophomore lefty midfielder said after his performance against Harvard that he feels very comfortable with his new scenery at Hofstra just 22 miles from his West Islip, N.Y. home.

“It has just been great since I got here,” said Braddish, who was a standout player at Long Island power West Islip High School prior to his collegiate career. “Everyone has welcomed me with open arms.”

Hofstra women's lacrosse vs. Penn in-game blog

The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team has a chance for a major signature win Wednesday afternoon when it takes on fourth-ranked Penn.

Last season when Penn was ranked fourth in the nation the Pride gave the Quakers quite the scare in Philadelphia rallying from a 6-1 deficit before falling 6-5. Penn (2-0) enters Shuart Stadium hot to start the season after wins over Drexel and third-ranked North Carolina.

Hofstra (2-2) will try and rebound from a 13-8 loss at Albany Saturday. The Pride have been led offensively this season thus far by senior attacker Stephanie Rice’s 12 points on nine goals and three assists.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of Hofstra’s quest to upset one of the top women’s college programs in the nation 15 minutes before the opening draw Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

Hofstra men's lacrosse vs. Harvard in-game blog

The fifth-ranked Hofstra men’s lacrosse team is off to its first 3-0 start in 14 years and will look to continue the early-season momentum at home against Harvard Saturday afternoon.

Hofstra is coning off a 11-9 win over then eighth-ranked Princeton last Saturday. The Pride had five different goal scorers led by four tallies from senior attackman Jaime Lincoln, who garnered Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week honors. Harvard (1-0) enters Saturday’s game with Hofstra coming off a 9-7 home win over Canisius last week and is in the receiving votes section of the top 20 rankings.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra-Harvard men’s lacrosse game 15 minutes before faceoff Saturday at 12:45 p.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

New Hofstra Sports Fan Connection Facebook Page Making Waves

 Credit: Facebook.com

A new Hofstra sports fan facebook page has created an interactive platform for Pride supporters to interact, and less than a half a year into its launch is already making major waves.

The Hofstra Sports Fan Connection facebook page was created in the fall and in a short time has gained more than 700 followers and growing. The page, which was founded in September and started to become active in early November, is designed as a hub for Hofstra sports supporters to share their experiences with friends and other Pride fans. The page’s wall features numerous photos and commentary either provided by the group’s founder Chuck Steveskey or other Hofstra fans.

Hofstra faceoff specialist a major "X factor" to Pride men's lacrosse 3-0 start

Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications

Faceoffs are a crucial part of the sport of lacrosse and the dominance displayed in the X early this season by sophomore John Antoniades is a major reason why Hofstra is off to a 3-0 start and on the cusp of being ranked among the top five teams in the nation.

Antoniades has won 69 percent (31-45) of his face-offs in the Pride’s first three games including going 16-22 during an 11-9 win over eighth-ranked Princeton yesterday afternoon. The 5’9 165 pound sophomore midfielder was especially clutch in the first quarter against Princeton game when he won 8 of 9 faceoffs to keep the Pride in the game after falling behind 5-2.

“John is a warrior,” said Hofstra men’s lacrosse head coach Seth Tierney in the post game press conference following the seventh-ranked Pride's huge victory over Princeton. “He will do whatever it takes to get the ball.”

Antoniades has become a formidable faceoff specialist early in his sophomore campaign despite missing the entire pre-season with an injury. As a freshman last year he was thrust into the spotlight in the Pride’s season opening game at Princeton when senior Mike Vaccaro tore his ACL, and he proceeded to win 55 percent (180-329) in the faceoff X and was second on the team in ground balls with 47. The Hauppauge, N.Y. native won 83 percent of his faceoffs as a senior at St. Anthony’s High School and then spent one year playing at Loomis Chaffee Prep School in Windsor, Conn. before arriving at Hofstra.

Antoniades, who made the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team as a freshman, said the competition he faces everyday in practice from other capable faceoff specialists has made a huge difference in his sophomore progression. Other faceoff specialists Hofstra can deploy in addition to Antoniades include Quinnipiac transfer Zachary Pall, who was 58 percent from the X last year, Cullen Cassidy and Vaccaro.

“We have four or five guys that can all come in everyday, every game and do a great job,” said Antoniades, who was also recruited by Army, Navy and Virginia. “Going at it everyday with all the faceoff guys on the team just really helps me be prepared for games.”

Antoniades will try and continue his hot play to the season this Saturday when Hofstra hosts Harvard with a 1 p.m. first faceoff.

Hofstra men's lacrosse vs. Princeton in-game blog

The seventh-ranked Hofstra men’s lacrosse team will take on eighth-ranked Princeton Saturday in a game that could have major postseason implications come May.

Princeton is the highest pre-season ranked team on the Pride’s schedule and a win over the Tigers Saturday would create a solid resume for Hofstra when NCAA Tournament selections and seedings are determined in May. Hofstra (2-0) enters Saturday’s game coming off wins over Colgate and Sacred Heart. It will be the opening game for Princeton, who returns six starters from last year’s Ivy League title team that fell to Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Hofstra leads the all-time series with Princeton 12-11. In last year’s meeting the Tigers won an offensive shootout 17-14. The last time Hofstra and Princeton met at Shuart Stadium the Pride came away with a 9-7 upset of the then third-ranked Tigers.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra men’s lacrosse team’s quest to earn a key signature win early in the season 15 minutes before faceoff Saturday at 11:15 a.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

Hofstra women's basketball vs. George Mason in-game blog

No matter what the sport a Hofstra-George Mason game is always intense and on Thursday afternoon the Pride women’s basketball team faces the rival Patriots in a key Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tilt.

Hofstra (15-11, 7-8 in the CAA) is coming off a heartbreaking 79-77 loss to Old Dominion Sunday. The Pride come into Thursday’s matinee one game ahead of the Patriots (12-14, 6-9 in the CAA) for sixth place in the conference standings. In the team’s first meeting this season in Fairfax, Va., George Mason came away with a 76-70 win on Super Bowl Sunday.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra- George Mason game 15 minutes before tip-off Thursday at 1:45 p.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

Jackie Pandolf stepping up to the cage as Hofstra women's lacrosse starting goalie

Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications

The healthy competition Hofstra women’s lacrosse goalie Jackie Pandolf faced for playing time last year with senior Mary Cuddidy is paying major dividends so far in 2011 for the junior netminder.

Pandolf stepped up huge for the Pride in Sunday’s dramatic 11-10 overtime win at Oregon with a career high 13 saves including two key stops in the extra session. The Sachem North High School product was also stellar in Hofstra’s season-opening 14-9 loss to 19th-ranked Boston College with 11 saves on 39 shots along with recording a team-high six ground balls.

After sharing playing time last year with Cuddihy, Hofstra women’s lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan was impressed with how Pandolf worked extra hard in the offseason to improve all facets of her play including clears and being a more vocal leader on defense. “Pandolf has fortified herself as a starter,” said Morgan just prior to the start of the 2011 season. “She really solidified her game.”

Last season while Cuddihy started 12 of the Pride’s 15 games, Pandolf still received plenty of time in the cage and posted a 8.26 goals against average with 56 saves. The Holbrook, N.Y. native also received solid preparation for her current starting role as a freshman in 2009 when she recorded 16 saves in 10 games.

Pandolf will try and continue her hot play to open the 2011 season when the Pride next take the field at home against Denver on Friday at 4 p.m.

Hofstra wrestling vs. Army in-match blog

The Hofstra wrestling team hits the mats for the final time at home Tuesday evening against Army.

The Pride enter the Army match winners of nine of 10 including a 33-11 triumph at Princeton on Saturday to improve to 13-4-1 on the season. Army (7-8) is coming off a 24-9 loss to arch rival Navy this past Saturday.

Tuesday’s match against Army is a makeup from a Jan. 26 contest that was postponed because of snow. It will mark the final home match for Hofstra senior grapplers Lou Ruggirello, Ryan Patrovich and Jeff Rotella.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra-Rider match 15 minutes before the first bout Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-match blog.

Hofstra women's basketball vs. Old Dominion in-game blog

The Hofstra women’s basketball team kicks off a three-game homestand Sunday afternoon against longtime Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) power Old Dominion.

Old Dominion enters Sunday’s game at 17-8 and 11-3 in the CAA. Hofstra is 15-10 overall and 7-7 in the conference.

There should be a large crowd on hand at the Mack Sports Complex Sunday thanks to the Hofstra-Old Dominion game serving as the Pride’s annual “Pink Zone” contest as well as Girl Scout Day. Everyone in attendance is asked to wear pink to help raise awareness for breast cancer.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra-Old Dominion game 15 minutes before tip-off Sunday at 12:45 p.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-game blog.

Hofstra wrestling vs. Rider in-match blog

The 23rd-ranked Hofstra wrestling team will hit the mats with conference rival Rider Wednesday night in a match that could decide the seedlings for next month’s Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championships.

Hofstra (11-4-1, 4-1 in CAA) has won seven of eight matches and is coming off a 39-8 win at Harvard this past Saturday. Rider arrives on Long Island at 8-10 and 2-2 in the CAA.

The Hofstra-Rider match will help decide many of the seedlings in the CAA Championships scheduled for March 4 and 5. Six of the 10 weight classes for Wednesday’s match will feature the number one and two ranked wrestlers going head to head. The headliner bout will be at 174 pounds between number one conference-ranked Ryan Patrovich against number two-ranked
Rob Morrison of Rider.

Check in with "Inside the Pride" for live updates of the Hofstra-Rider match 15 minutes before the first bout Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. Comments and questions are also welcome and encouraged during the live in-match blog.