Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra Women's Lacrosse team will open the 2015 season on Saturday when the Pride host New Hampshire at 3 p.m. from James M. Shuart Stadium.
The game is part of a doubleheader with the men's lacrosse team, which will open its season at 12 p.m. against Marquette.
Pride Productions will have live video and audio with Rich DeKorte and Anthony Santaniello on the call. The pregame show will begin at 2:45 p.m.
Hofstra is under the direction of third-year Head Coach
Shannon Smith, who brings a career record of 19-18 into the season. The Pride went 8-10 last season, advancing to the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals before dropping a 6-5 hard-fought decision to top-seeded Towson.
The Pride will be led by an outstanding trio of seniors this season as senior attacker
Brittain Altomare, senior goalie
Kelsey Gregerson and senior defender
April Iannetta have cemented themselves as arguably one of the best at their respective positions in program history.
Altomare was an Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Mid-Atlantic Region second team selection and a first team All-CAA honoree a season ago after tallying 30 goals and 36 assists for 66 points. She led Hofstra in all three categories and her 36 assists set a Hofstra single season record. In addition, her 87 career assists are tops in program history.
Iannetta captured her second straight CAA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014 and was an IWLCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region first team selection in addition to earning first team All-CAA honors. She had 64 draw controls, 34 ground balls, 26 caused turnovers, along with 12 goals and four assists. She led Hofstra in draw controls and caused turnovers and her draw control total is the highest single season total in school history.
Gregerson had an outstanding junior season as she earned second team All-CAA honors and CAA Championship All-Tournament accolades after starting all 18 games in 2014. She picked up eight victories and had a 7.93 goals against average, a .500 save percentage and compiled 141 saves. Gregerson also led the Pride with 55 ground balls.
This trio will not have to do it alone, though, as in total Hofstra returns seven starters from last season and 13 letterwinners from 2014 return to the roster in 2015. In addition, the program welcomes 12 talented newcomers to the roster this year.
New Hampshire was 7-10 in 2014. The Wildcats return 15 letterwinners, including seven starters, from last season.
The Pride is 9-7 all-time against New Hampshire, although the Wildcats earned a 9-5 victory in the 2014 season opener over Hofstra.
Hofstra will head on the road for a pair of games after opening the season at home as the Pride will head to Fairfield on February 17 for a 3 p.m. game and take on Harvard on the road on February 21 at 12 p.m.
