Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Women's Lacrosse team has a big weekend ahead as the Pride will host Towson on Friday before closing the weekend with a road tilt at Delaware on Sunday. Both games are important as Hofstra looks to continue its march towards the Colonial Athletic Association Championship Tournament. 

Friday's game will be at 2 p.m. from James M. Shuart Stadium before Hofstra heads to Newark for the Sunday 1 p.m. game. 

Prior to Friday's game Hofstra will honor its five seniors as the game against the Tigers marks the final regular season home game for seniors Jenna Budd, Sara Guarascio, Annalise Martin, Kaitlyn Shanahan and Tessa Sinatro. 

Hofstra (9-5, 2-1 CAA) is coming off an incredible effort on Sunday as it dropped a hard-fought 9-8 double overtime decision to #11 James Madison. Freshman Jess Smith was outstanding in net with nine saves and also added four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. Junior Alexa Mattera had six draw controls, two ground balls and two caused turnovers for the Pride, which got a team-high three points (2G, 1A) from junior Alyssa Parrella. 

The Pride has had a strong offense all season with Parrella leading the way with 79 points on 65 goals and 14 assists. She is two points shy of tying Brittain Altomare (2015) for the single season school record in points. She has a pair of teammates having stellar seasons as well as sophomore Katie Whelan is second on the team with 42 points on 25 goals and a team-high 17 assists, while Mattera has 38 points on 32 goals and six assists. Junior Darcie Smith has been the Pride's unsung hero all season and quietly is having an outstanding season with team-high totals of 88 draw controls, 32 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers. She is five draw controls shy of tying Altomare (2015) for the single season school record in draws. Jess Smith has played nearly every minute in net for the Pride this season and accumulated a 9.54 goals against average, a .509 save percentage and tallied 136 saves. 

Towson is 4-9 overall and tied with the Pride for second in the CAA standings at 2-1. The Tigers have won two straight games, including a 22-12 victory over William & Mary on Sunday. Natalie Sulmonte leads Towson with 45 points on 38 goals and seven assists, while Kaitlin Thornton has 25 goals and 11 assists for 36 points. 

Delaware enters this week with a 6-8 overall record and an 0-3 conference ledger. The Blue Hens dropped a pair of one-goal games over the past weekend, including a 9-8 contest at Elon on Sunday. Mia DeRuggiero has 56 points on 14 goals and 42 assists for Delaware, while Christine Long has 39 goals and four assists for 43 points. 

Two of Hofstra's oldest rivals, the Pride is 15-24 all-time against Towson and 11-20 all-time against Delaware.