Hempstead, NY- Even with Women's Golf providing stiff competition, Women's Soccer has prevailed for the fifth straight year to capture the Former Student-Athlete Participation Challenge, presented by the Hofstra Pride Club, and win the $5,000 prize for their team. The program saw its largest alumnae giving percentage ever at 84% with 107 donations and totaled 1,014 points, the most points ever by a team in challenge history!

"As always I am extremely thankful for and proud of the support from our Women's Soccer alumnae. Their support is a true indication of the strength of our program. The victory is more gratifying and impressive this year due to the brilliant effort put forth by the Women's Golf program and their alumnae," said Head Women's Soccer Coach Simon Riddiough. 

The Women's Golf program did take first place in the Young Alumni Competition for the first time since 2012. The program saw 76% of its young alumnae (graduates between 2004-2013) donate to help them win the $2,500 gift. The Softball program battled Women's Golf throughout the challenge and finished in second place with more than 56% of young alumnae giving back to earn the $1,500 prize. In third place for a second straight year was the Field Hockey program, which had a late surge to push past Men's Soccer and win the $1,000 prize.

New to the winners circle this year is the Wrestling program, which won the Increase Competition after seeing a 5% increase in donations from last year to this year.

In all, more than 470 former student-athletes made a contribution to support today's Hofstra student-athletes. While the Former Student-Athlete Participation Challenge is over, it is not too late to join the Hofstra Pride Club and make a difference. Please visit our online giving page to become a member.

Final Participation Competition
1. Women's Soccer – 1,014 Points - $5,000 First Place Prize
2. Women's Golf – 794 Points
3. Softball – 242 Points
4. Field Hockey – 219 Points
5. Men's Soccer – 168 Points

Final Increase Competition
1. Wrestling – $2,500 First Place Prize
2. Cross Country
3. Women's Lacrosse
4. Men's Tennis
5. Men's Golf

Final Young Alumni Competition
1. Women's Golf – $2,500 First Place Prize
2. Softball – $1,500 Second Place Prize
3. Field Hockey – $1,000 Third Place Prize
4. Men's Soccer
5. Cross Country

Information about the Challenge:

Participation Competition
Each Hofstra Athletics team recruits as many of their former athletes to join the Pride Club and give a gift of $25 or more.  The team with the most points will win the competition and earn a $5,000 gift to their program.

How the Scoring Works: The percentage of alumni giving will be multiplied by 1000. Example: 100 former-athletes who have made a gift of $25 or more out of 500 former-athletes= .2x1000 = 200 points. As an added bonus an additional two points can be earned for each gift made online by a former athlete between now and May 31.

*Each team can only win one prize*

Increase Competition
The team with the greatest percentage increase of former athletes giving from last year to this year will win a $2,500 prize.

Young Alumni Competition
Each team will compete for the highest percentage of its own young alumni joining the Pride Club. A young alumnus is someone who graduated between 2004 and 2013. The team with the highest percentage will win $2,500, with second place receiving $1,500 and third place earning $1,000.

Giving information:
To make a gift online: GoHofstra.com or make a gift online to The Hofstra Pride Club
To make a gift by phone: (516) 463-6144
To make a gift by mail: Check payable to Hofstra University.  
315 Mack Sports Complex, 245 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549