By Stacey Troiano
As the women’s soccer season ended this past weekend, an unexpected bright spot emerged in a dark season decimated by injuries. Freshman walk-on Erika Fuertes shone down the stretch for the Pride.
Playing the whole season with just two starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, Hofstra looked in every direction for other players to step up. Fuertes’ play down the stretch (scoring two goals in must-win games against Drexel and Delaware two weekends ago), provided the spark the Pride needed in a final push for the CAA playoffs. Hofstra had the sixth and final spot in the playoffs all but wrapped up until James Madison pulled off an upset of Virginia Commonwealth last Friday to steal the last playoff spot and end the Pride’s season.
Fuertes, a native of Glen Head, N.Y., was voted the soccer team’s most valuable player for three years at St. Mary’s High School, and she was voted to the All CHSAA as a senior. She started playing soccer for a local team in first grade, and also played softball, basketball and lacrosse growing up.
Fuertes was recruited by Central Connecticut, Fordham and St. John’s, but she said she ultimately decided to come to Hofstra so she could be close to home and her family but still live on campus and experience the best of both worlds. Deciding to walk on at Hofstra was a result of not wanting to give up the game she loved.
“I’ve played soccer my whole life, so I definitely wanted to play in college,” she said. “Knowing that Simon [Riddiough] was a great coach, I decided to join the team as well.”
Fuertes tallied two goals and one assist on the season, appearing in 10 games down the stretch for the Pride. She said her success came from hard work, dedication and a positive mindset.
“I never expected to play as much as I did, but I’m happy my hard work paid off,” she said. “The role I played toward the end of the season was to my surprise, but I am willing to help the team in any way that I can. I’m glad that I was a positive source for the team.”
Fuertes’ two key goals, including one game-winner, in the final, most important weekend of the season earned her the honor of CAA Player of the Week.
“It was such an honor to be Player of the Week, but I couldn’t have done it without my team’s support and hard work,” Fuertes said.
Hofstra’s season ended somewhat unexpectedly when James Madison upset heavily favored VCU.
“We were very disappointed that the season had to end like that, but at the same time we’re very optimistic and hopeful for next year,” she said.
Optimism is the word, as next year the team will welcome back medical redshirts Carol Leurini, Jess Crankshaw and Edel Malone, all starters for the 2005 championship squad, as well as all of the young players that got thrown into the fire this season.