By Ryan McCord
In case you missed it (and judging by the amount of empty seats at Shuart Stadium lately, chances are you have), a lot has happened to the Pride men’s lacrosse team since a disappointing opening game loss at UMass on Feb. 26.
Sixteen straight wins and a CAA championship later, Hofstra has turned expectations from a “who knows” NCAA participant label to a “no doubt” Final Four contender. The Pride has exceeded all of the experts and critics’ predictions and has become the toast of the town in the process.
Thanks to a collective team effort throughout the season inspired by a “Relentless” motto and a “Fat Head” for good measure, the No. 2 nationally ranked Pride were assigned with the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
“The national poll has nothing to do with the tournament committee, and we told the guys that all year,” said head coach John Danowski, who guided Hofstra to its highest ranking in program history. “Concentrating on putting their energies towards the next game, nothing changes, that’s the philosophy we have lived by all season.”
Hofstra will play host to Providence College, the automatic qualifiers as champions of the MAAC. Providence has won four straight heading into Sunday afternoon’s game at Shuart Stadium, but Hofstra owns the Friars in the overall series (3-0), including an 18-2 shellacking the last time the two programs met in 1998.
“I could care less who we play,” senior co-captain Brett Moyer said. “We just take it one step at a time and step up the intensity and focus in practice. One loss and you’re done at this point.”
Moyer once again lived up to preseason accolades by winning his second consecutive CAA Defensive Player of the Year award, almost assuring himself as a first team All-American.
Senior attack Chris Unterstein was appointed the conference Player of the Year and head coach John Danowski took home his second CAA Coach of the Year honor.
Unterstein is in the top 10 nationally in both goals and assists per game, while Danowski led Hofstra to its longest winning-streak (16 and counting) and highest single season win total in program history.
Freshman attack Tommy Dooley used one of the most productive rookie seasons in Pride history to claim the conference Rookie of the Year award to round out the rest of Hofstra’s CAA clean sweep.
Senior defender Sean McCarthy, who Danowski referred to as one of the most improved players from last season, joined the list of seven Hofstra players awarded to the All-CAA First Team. Joining McCarthy were Moyer, Unterstein, Athan Iannucci, John Keysor, Matthew Southard and John Orsen.
Orsen made a successful transition this season from defensive middy to long stick specialist, and played a key role (65 ground balls) with Kevin Unterstein (78 ground balls) in helping Joe Mascaretti win 59 percent of his face-offs.
“I think he’s [Orsen] the top long stick man in the country and one of the most improved on our team,” Moyer said. “He’s one of the guys who will do anything for the team and works harder than anyone.”
Iannucci had a Tewaaraton-esque type of season, as he broke the school’s all-time single season goal scoring record with 57 to go, along with being named the CAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Iannucci and Chris Unterstein are tied for the national lead in points (72 each) on a Pride offense that is ranked only behind top-ranked Virginia in total scoring offense and scoring margin.
With all that was accomplished in this magical 2006 campaign, what more could a Pride fan ask for? Think big.
This is a team that has all the components, which includes individuals who have bought into their assigned roles from a quality coaching staff in competing for a national title. But no matter what happens from here on out, Danowski’s senior-laden team has given spectators a lacrosse season unlike any other in recent memory.
The Pride are the third overall seed in the NCAA tournament.