Hofstra makes opening statement

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On the heels of a disappointing 5-9 season that featured four losses by one goal, Hofstra men’s lacrosse has renewed optimism for 2016 and opened the new campaign with a bang.

Hofstra upset fifth-ranked North Carolina, 10-5, in its opener on Feb. 20. The signature win earned national attention and catapulted Hofstra to 12th in the USILA/Nike Coaches Poll, but 10th-year head coach Seth Tierney emphasized that a rigorous schedule will challenge his team throughout a season he hopes lands the program its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011.

“The guys worked hard for that win and earned it,” said Tierney, whose team followed up the UNC victory with an 11-10 overtime victory against Princeton last Saturday. 

Hofstra’s offense is led by attackmen Sam Llinares and Josh Byrne, who combined for nine of the Pride’s 10 goals against UNC. Llinares enter his senior season off a junior campaign where he scored 33 goals and captured Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year honors despite being hampered by injuries. The former Suffolk County Player of the Year out of Hauppauge High School was selected fifth overall by the Denver Outlaws in the Major League Lacrosse Draft.

“Sam has been banged up throughout his career,” Tierney said. “He has put a lot of time and effort in.”

Byrne played down the street from Hofstra’s campus at Nassau Community College last season and earned All-American accolades with 76 goals and 30 assists. The native Canadian from New Westminster, British Columbia provides Hofstra a sniper on the attack unit to complement Llinares.

"He has the ability to put the ball in the goal,” said Tierney of Byrne, who tallied five scores against Princeton including the overtime game-winner. 

Sophomore midfielder Dylan Alderman scored one goal in the win at UNC, and Tierney is hoping for continued offensive production from the Pennsylvania native after he was named to the CAA All-Rookie team as a freshman. The Pride’s offensive contributors features several local standouts including Rockville Centre native Brendan Kavanagh, a former standout at Kellenberg, senior Korey Hendrickson (Farmingdale) and senior Brian von Bargen (Wantagh), who is one of four captains.

“He has been a steady guy who has been a leader,” Tierney said of von Bargen, a 2012 Wantagh High School graduate. “We’re looking for him to have a big season.”

Junior faceoff specialist Kris Clark will look to continue his dominance at gaining Hofstra extra offensive possessions. The Bellmore native and Chaminade High School product was ranked 10th nationally in face-off winning percentage with a .609 mark. 

“I want him to get better every week,” Tierney said of Clark, who was recently recognized off the field for achieving a 4.0 grade point average in the fall. “Kris is working very hard.”

Senior Finn Sullivan is also a Hofstra captain and anchors the Pride’s close defense with junior Michael Diener and Marist transfer Brett Osman. Sophomore goalie Jack Concannon, a St. Anthony’s High School product, is starting in net and recorded 11 saves in the Pride’s win at UNC.

Hofstra faces a challenging stretch of March games starting at home this Saturday against Georgetown at noon in the first part of a doubleheader that also features Duke taking on Harvard at 3 p.m. The Pride then takes on Ohio State at home on March 12 at noon before traveling 40 miles east to face Stony Brook on March 15 in the first matchup with the Long Island rival since 2009.

Hofstra opens CAA play on Saturday night April 2 against Fairfield and closes its conference schedule on April 30 versus Towson. 

“You need to play the best teams in the country to be recognized,” Tierney said. “We have to take it one game at a time and one practice at a time.”