By Bob Bonett

Virtually every news tidbit seen now regarding the Hofstra women’s soccer team has to do with overcoming countless amounts of injuries. However, this never-ending injury bug has failed to discourage head coach Simon Riddiough and the Pride from throwing in the towel. Early returns from Kristine Suapengco and Marie Curtin, though, have proved that the Pride will not go down without a fight.

The stories of Suapengco and Curtin are nearly opposite, but both girls have sent a message through their early returns from injuries. In Suapengco’s case, a return in 2006 was not even on the mind of the doctor that treated her. “I was told that I should never play again by my physician,” Suapengco said of her off-season torn meniscus (an injury that followed a torn ACL). Despite this, Suapengco remained optimistic, and persevered. “I was hoping to come back this year, went in for surgery and made it back quickly,” she said.

For Curtin, her injury occurred directly in the midst of the Pride’s postseason run. Curtin suffered a second-degree ankle sprain during a game with Georgia State, and was expected to miss perhaps a month. Yet, just one week after hurting her ankle, Curtin returned to action against conference powerhouse Virginia Commonwealth looking to provide a spark for the Pride.

“I knew we had to win three of our final games for a chance at the playoffs,” she said. “I’d rather go through the physical pain and do my best out there than watch my team lose and have regrets about not playing.”

Riddiough has appreciated the timely efforts of the girls more than anybody.

“Suapengco’s return has allowed a bit more depth, while for Marie, a special trait she possesses has made the team play better on the field when she is out there,” Riddiough said.

With grim playoff hopes for the Pride, staying upbeat and confident is a tough task. But Curtin is not playing to prepare herself for next year-she is looking to win this year.

“I haven’t really been thinking much about next year,” she said. “Last year, we had so much hope and high expectations for this season until so many players were injured. You never know what’s going to happen in a season, so you just have to take it as it comes.”