On the backs of a 4-15 season, the Hofstra University field hockey team is looking to take a step forward into the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championship tournament for the first time since 2015. Second-year head coach Hillary Fitts returns along with several All-Conference player selections from 2024.
Things are heading in the right direction for Fitts, as the Pride started the season 3-1 after three straight wins over Sacred Heart University, Rider University and Bryant University. But for Fitts, the hardest part of the offseason was rebuilding the team’s culture and instilling a renewed goal in her players that fits with how she wants to lead the team.
“I think we were a talented team last year,” Fitts said. “Starting in the first game, they were extremely hungry to make a name for themselves.”
The Pride opened the year with a narrow 3-2 defeat to No. 18 University at Albany, a team that defeated Hofstra 3-0 last season. In their match on Aug. 29, Hofstra and UAlbany both had six shots on net, and the Great Danes earned five penalty corners compared to Hofstra’s four.
“It’s important that they see that every game, every detail of the game matters,” Fitts said. “It’s good to see where they were last year and compare that to how they are coming into every game this year, physically and mentally.”
Even though Hofstra opened the year with a loss, the team responded with a dominant 2-0 win over Sacred Heart and a 3-2 shootout victory over Rider.
The Pride have now matched their win total from the 2024 season. A big reason for the quick improvement is how Fitts challenged the team to refocus their hard work into one collective effort for the upcoming season.
“I think the biggest thing starting last spring was reevaluating and setting our foundation and core values,” Fitts said. “We emphasized: respect, gratitude [and] having fun, while still being able to hold each other accountable to a standard we wanted to have for ourselves.”
The players echoed Fitts’ message, showing a full buy-in to the working hard, team-first mentality.
“I think a big part of us having success throughout the early season is because of our team culture,” said junior midfielder Jaime Lewis. “Now, we’re a lot more connected than in the past.”
Fitts’ foundation and refocus technique has worked in the early on to produce better on-field results. In 2024, the Pride struggled to find the back of the net and averaged .89 goals per game.
Senior Teresa Karoff is one part of the Pride’s more potent offense. Karoff was one of three Hofstra players named to the All-CAA preseason team last month after a strong junior campaign. Karoff picked up where she left off by scoring a goal in each of her first three games.
Karoff scored against UAlbany and Sacred Heart on penalty strokes, leading Hofstra to their first goals of the season.
“[Karoff] is one of our leaders right now,” Fitts said. “She brings back skill and leadership and definitely helps us on the attack.”
Jamie Mc Millan also earned preseason All-CAA honors and is projected to be a huge part of the Prides’ defense this season. Mc Millan contributed a team-leading 1009 minutes, two goals and four defensive saves in 2024. Mc Millan ranked top ten in the nation in defensive saves.
“[Mc Millan’s] really the brains of our back field,” Fitts said. “She’s fantastic when she’s on or off the ball. She’s one of our good, smart players who knows how to play a complete game.”
Mc Millan earned an assist on Lewis’ late-game tying goal against Rider on a penalty corner. Mc Millan took the shot from the top of the shooting circle, which Lewis tipped in to send the game to overtime.
Hofstra returns lots of other veteran seniors and juniors, including Lauren Lucas, Efremia Geralis, Pilar Penaloza, Kesia Richardson, Tess Satterfield, Adrianna Losiak, Riley MacIntosh, Camryn Stewart, Kristi Santos, Kelly Levengood and Alex Gordon.
Fitts has utilized a deeper bench this season, giving all these veterans minutes in specific situations. No matter who the Pride has on the field, the veterans have made the most of their minutes and improved by making fewer mistakes and being hungrier for the ball.
“It comes down to the team’s fitness and the IQ that we worked on over the summer,” Fitts said. “You have to watch your opponents to learn their tendencies. We’ve become that team that’s hungrier when the ball is in the midfield, which allows us to counterattack and take control of the game.”
Freshman Gwenn van Dijk came to Hempstead with those values already. She’s excelled in her first four collegiate games by scoring two goals and an assist. Both of van Dijk’s goals have been game winners, including her most recent against Byrant in double overtime.
“[van Dijk] has stepped in and done so well as a freshman,” Fitts said. “I know she only has two goals but she’s hungry for more. She’s also been a great distributor in the midfield.”
In net, the Pride had big shoes to fill after three-year starter Pieke Roos graduated after last season. Enter Luci Hollister, a freshman from New Zealand, who has backstopped the Pride every minute this season.
In net, Hollister has earned a 1.37 goals against average and made 37 saves.
“She brings a fantastic presence that helps organize her teammates,” Fitts said. “She’s always encouraging her teammates to get better, while she’s still learning things herself.”
The 2025 field hockey season is marked by a renewed team culture as well as talented newcomers and returners. The Pride opens their five-game conference schedule on Friday, Sept. 26, against Drexel University. Hofstra will likely need to win at least three conference games to make their first CAA tournament in a decade.
For Hofstra to succeed in conference and make it to the dance, Fitts expects everyone on the team to do the little things and have fun while doing it. So far, the 4-2 Pride have done just that.
“I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something is different about this year’s team,” Lewis said. “But during our first game and the preseason, everyone was a lot happier. This semester has been really good and I’m really enjoying it.”
