Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra Women's Lacrosse team will open the 2017 season on Saturday when it travels to Bucknell for a 3 p.m. contest. 

This marks the start of the fifth season for Hofstra Head Coach Shannon Smith. 

There will be live stats for the game with the link available on this page or on the women's lacrosse schedule page at GoHofstra.com. 

Hofstra will look to turn the page from last season as the Pride endured an injury-riddled 2016 campaign that produced three victories. 

The Pride has a slew of returnees and a good group of newcomers in 2017 as 22 players return off of last season's roster and the program has added six talented freshmen. Of the 22 returnees, six are starters. 

Offensively, junior Drew Shapiro and sophomore Lexi Lenaghan return after both posting 18 goals a season ago. Lenaghan also added eight assists for 26 points. Senior Morgan Knox had 21 points on eight goals and 13 assists last year. Her 13 assists are tops among returnees. 

Hofstra returns all three goalies from last season, including the duo of senior Alexis Greene and sophomore Maddie Fields that saw nearly all of the playing time in 2016. 

Junior Amanda Seekamp, a preseason honorable mention All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, will look to anchor the defensive in her new role. 

Bucknell is already 2-0 this season after wins over Robert Morris (11-10) and Villanova (10-6). The Bison went 10-6 a season ago. 

This will be the 13th all-time meeting between Hofstra and Bucknell. The Pride lead the series, 7-5, but the teams have not met since an 18-10 Hofstra victory in 1995.