Hempstead, NY - The 2021 season of Hofstra field hockey will begin with a split of non-conference opponents in Lafayette and Wagner. The Pride will begin the season against Lafayette on Friday, August 27 at 4 p.m. from Easton, Pennsylvania, before hosting Wagner at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium on Sunday, August 29 at 3 p.m.

Friday's contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ and will have live stats available. Sunday's game will be available for viewing on FloLive, while live stats will be available on HofstraStats.com. These links can be found at the top of this release.

The Pride returns to action after going 4-8 during the spring season. Picked to finish tied for sixth in the Preseason CAA Poll, Hofstra returns 18 from last season's squad, including Preseason All-CAA honorees Cami Larsson and Djuna Slort. All-CAA Second Team selections in 2020, Larsson posted six points on two goals and two assists, while Slort produced two goals and an assist for five points. Junior Mercedes Currie also returns after scoring three goals in 2020, while Frankie O'Brien will take the field for her fifth season in a Hofstra uniform. Karissa Hough, Gabriela Espinoza and Cami Valor will look to improve upon their freshman campaigns, with Hough tallying two assists and Espinoza and Valor scoring once each. Merlijn van der Vegt looks to backstop Hofstra again after starting every game as a sophomore and posting 40 saves and a .615 save percentage. 

After going 1-5 against conference competition, Lafayette was picked to finish fourth in the 2021 Patriot League Preseason Poll. The Leopards will return leading scorer and NFHCA All-Mideast Region Second Team selection Audrey Sawers in midfield, while fellow NFHCA All-Mideast Region Second Team selection Simone Hefting returns in defense.

The Seahawks hit the field for their third season of Division I competition following a 3-3 campaign last season. Picked to finish third in the 2021 NEC Preseason Poll, Wagner brings back all four All-NEC selections from the previous season, including First Team honoree and leading scorer Agustina Deharbe and top goalkeeper Erin Franklin.

Friday's contest will be the 13th all-time meeting between Hofstra and Lafayette, with the Leopards holding an 8-4 advantage. Meanwhile, Hofstra enters Sunday's game sporting a 6-2 all-time mark over Wagner. Hofstra last played Lafayette in 2017, a 3-0 result for the Leopards, while Hofstra picked up a 1-0 overtime win over Wagner last season.