Hempstead, NY - Hofstra senior Alyssa Parrella was named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week and graduate student Darcie Smith picked up CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors, it was announced this morning by the conference office. Parrella also picked up US Lacrosse National Player of the Week honors today. Parrella earns the US Lacrosse honor for the first time since March 18, 2019. 

It marks almost a year to the day that the duo each earned the same CAA awards (February 25, 2020).

It is remarkably the 11th time in Parrella's career she has earned CAA Player of the Week honors. 

Arguably the greatest player in CAA history, Parrella added another chapter to her story this week as she led Hofstra to a pair of wins to open the 2021 campaign. On Wednesday, in a 10-9 win over Saint Joseph's, Parrella posted team and game-highs of three goals, two assists, and five points as the Pride won its season opener. She followed that outing up with a career-defining outing as she poured in eight points on seven goals and one assist in a 17-11 victory over Connecticut. The seven goals were one off her career-high of eight and in the process of the game, she became the CAA all-time leader in goals. Parrella entered the game needing two goals to tie and three goals to break the record of 221 by Stacey Morlang of Loyola (1999-2002). With her seven goals, she now has 226 in her incredible career. She currently ranks first among all active players at the NCAA Division I level. 

It was a strong start to the season for Darcie Smith as she anchored the defense for Hofstra in the two wins. On Wednesday in the season-opening victory over St. Joseph's, Smith had four draw controls, two caused turnovers, and a pair of ground balls to assist in the efforts. She led the team in draw controls and caused turnovers in the contest. She followed that up with a tremendous game against Connecticut as she posted 10 draw controls, five ground balls, and a caused turnover in the dominating win over the Huskies. Smith led Hofstra in all three categories in the contest. It was the fifth time in her career she has tallied 10 or more draw controls in a game.