Hofstra looks to conquer CAA lacrosse rivals

Hofstra University’s men’s lacrosse team learned the hard way a year ago to not leave its postseason fate in the hands of someone else. 
After defeating Towson 15-14 on a late goal in the regular season finale, the Pride watched on the bus ride back to Long Island the Delaware-Fairfield game needing a Blue Hens defeat to earn the final spot in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament. Delaware ended all hope with a 14-12 win that denied Hofstra a chance to compete for the CAA’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. 
“Two years ago we made the CAA tourney on a tie breaking scenario and last year we lost out on a tie breaking criteria, “said longtime Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney, who in 2021 experienced the opposite feeling when Hofstra qualified for the four-team CAA tourney from a Towson 12-11 loss to Drexel in the final weekend of the season. “There is no getting around it that these conference games have more weight to them.” 
Hofstra, which was picked to finish fifth in the eight-team CAA, dropped its league opener 12-11 to Fairfield on Saturday making its remaining seven league games that much more important. 
The Pride have been led offensively so far this season by sophomore attackman John Madsen, a Locust Valley High School product, with 16 goals through the first six games. The Pride boast many potential scoring weapons including Rory Jones, Gerard Kane, Griffin Turner, Colton Rudd and Justin Sykes, 

The defense brought back experience in senior goalie Mac Gates and long-stick defensive midfielder Corey Kale, who were named to the  preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention Team along with Jones. The close-defense features veterans Tom Ford, Tim Hegarty and Danny Ochs. Redshirt freshman defenseman Ryan Kiernan, a Rockville Centre native and Chaminade graduate, is also making strides.
“Ryan Kiernan is a hard worker and his family did a wonderful job bringing him up ,” Tierney said. “His days are certainly bright in the very near future.” 
Hofstra will next take the field on Saturday at league newcomer Monmouth before battling Towson in the CAA home opener on April 8 at 3 p.m. The regular season concludes on April 29 under the lights at Shuart Stadium against Long Island rival Stony Brook in the teams’ first meeting since the Seawolves joined the CAA.