By Rondolf Moreno

Big bragging rights should be given to junior attack Kimberly Hillier for being named to the Tewaaraton Trophy preseason Watch List. Winning this prestigious award is the lacrosse equivalent of Reggie Bush winning the Heisman. The award honors the top female and male varsity collegiate lacrosse players in the country, as coaches from all three divisions nominate them. The Tewaaraton Trophy was established in August 2000 and is now given out annually at the University Club in Washington, D.C. Hillier scored at least one point in all 17 games last year and was named to the All-CAA First Team.

The Pride is already making big moves this year. The team jumped to No. 2 in the preseason CAA coaches poll, just two points short of top ranked Towson. The defending champion Tigers took the first place nod with 45 points in the poll and last year had their most conquering season in the program’s history, finishing with a 13-6 overall record and 5-2 in the conference. But this year could be very different for the Tigers, as they lost five players from last years starting line-up. The Pride’s other big rival, the Blue Hens of Delaware, placed at No. 4 in the poll, as they ended last season 7-9 (2-5 CAA).

Snowy weather in the forecast effects many Northeast teams, but the Pride isn’t worried thanks to the New York Jets. The Pride can avoid bad weather by using the Jets’ indoor practice bubble, located on the North campus behind Hofstra Arena. Inside the bubble lays the 50-yard turf field that allows the lacrosse team and several other teams the advantage of constant practice time, taking no notice of Mother Nature’s influence on canceling practices.

In other Pride news, during last weeks men’s basketball game against No. 25 George Mason, 23 players from the lacrosse team were honored during halftime ceremonies for reaching a grade point average of at least 3.0. The average for all of the student-athletes was 25 percent higher than in 2004.