The Hofstra Men's Lacrosse team opened their 2016 season with a bang heard around the college lacrosse world with a resounding 10-5 victory at the fifth-ranked Tar Heels of North Carolina. The unranked Pride, armed with the return of 2015 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, Sam Llinares, and the addition of 2015 Junior College Attackman of the Year, Josh Byrne, topped a UNC squad that was 2-0 on the season at that point. 

While the Hofstra defense, behind senior defender Finn Sullivan and sophomore goalie Jack Concannon's 11 saves, held the Tar Heels to just one goal in each of the first three period, the Pride offense, behind Llinares' five goals and Byrnes'  four goals and two assists, rolled to a stunning 10-5 victory over North Carolina. Hofstra dominated the contest, outshooting the Tar Heels, 35-25 while picking up 35 ground balls to UNC's 23.

The Tar Heels would lose two of their next three contests before righting their ship to win nine of the last 12 outings, including a 14-13 overtime thriller over Maryland in the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship Game on Memorial Day.