Hempstead, NY – Today we begin to unveil the #HofstraTop10, the best of Hofstra Athletics from the 2014-15 year. 

Our first group is the five that comprise our honorable mention category. There were many outstanding entries in the #HofstraTop10 and these five finished just outside the top 10. 

2015 Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame

The Hofstra Department of Athletics inducted the seventh class of the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame at a gala dinner on Sunday, April 12 at the Hofstra University Club. The sold out affair enshrined eight individuals and two teams as the first part of the seventh class to be inducted since the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame was reestablished in 2006. The second part of the seventh class induction, featuring 1975-76 and the 1999-00 NCAA Tournament Men's Basketball teams, will be held in the fall leading up to the start of the 2015-16 season. 

Women's Lacrosse-Altomare

Brittian Altomare, the senior attacker from Maryland closed her spectacular career in style as she became only the eighth All-American in program history this past May, following her earning CAA Player of the Year accolades. Hofstra's other All-Americans include Stephanie Clarke (third team in 1996 and second team in 1997), Kathleen McPike (third team in 2001), Kathleen Mikowski (third team in 2001 and 2003), Bridget Eder (second team in 2004 and first team in 2005), Becky Thorn (third team in 2005), Kimberly Hillier (second team in 2006 and third team in 2007) and Corrine Gandolfi (third team in 2009 and 2010).

Student-Athlete Community Service

Throughout the 2014-15 academic year, Hofstra student-athletes dedicated themselves to serving others. Between Hofstra's 17 athletic teams and more than 300 student-athletes, the Pride took part in 41 community service projects and totaled more than 3,300 hours of service. One highlighted project was the Yards 4 Yeardley campaign. The event was in support of the One Love Foundation, One Love Foundation, which looks to bring education and awareness of domestic violence to college campuses. Students from all 17 teams got together and ran more than 1,000,000 yards in just two days to help promote this outstanding campaign. Other community service projects included visiting local elementary schools for reading days along with sports clinics, the Annual Shake-A-Rake event and the Special Olympics Polar Plunge.

Men's Lacrosse-Llinares

Hofstra University junior attackman Sam Llinares was named the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year and headed up seven Pride student-athletes who were honored on the 2015 All-CAA Men's Lacrosse Teams in April. Llinares lived up to his preseason CAA Player of the Year accolade by leading the conference in goals and points in 2015. In 14 games, he recorded career-highs of 33 goals and 57 points for the Pride. In the process, he became the first Hofstra student-athlete to post 50 points or more in consecutive seasons since Tom Kessler did it in 2000 and 2001.

Wrestling-Ruggirello

Hofstra University graduate Cody Ruggirello closed his Pride wrestling career this past March with an appearance in the NCAA Championships. Ruggirello, who was named to the NWCA All-Academic Team in May, made his second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championships in St. Louis in March after receiving an at-large bid from the NCAA Wrestling Committee at 149 pounds. He received the 14th-seed at 149 and fell just one win short of earning All-American honors in St. Louis. Ruggirello, who placed seventh in the 2015 EIWA Championships, closed out the season with a career-best 27-8 record. He was 59-36 in his career at Hofstra.