By Stacy Troiano
Amidst the down-pouring rain on Friday night at Hofstra Soccer Stadium, seven Pride seniors celebrated their final regular season home game with a decisive win over Drexel.
The seniors-Sue Weber, Brooke DeRosa, Larkin Hargraves, Carol Leurini, Kristine Suapengco, Amy Ferriso and Alex Steinberg-were honored at a pregame ceremony that included tears and cheers as the group of players bid farewell to the Hofstra turf.
The class has a record of 49-21-6 in the four year span, including Hofstra’s first ever CAA tournament championship. Head Coach Simon Riddiough believes the leadership they bring has been an immeasurable factor in the team’s success this season.
“There is leadership from all of them,” he said. “Some who haven’t played much throughout their four years and some who have played every minute. They’ve really been tremendous.”
Riddiough added that each person brings something unique to the team, and their experience and guidance, whether it has come in the game or not, has been a catalyst to the dominance in 2007, from Weber, the program’s first All-American, to players whose injuries have forced them to miss their final season.
“You have people like Alex Steinberg who tore her ACL this year and who has not played much over her career, and she’s a positive leader in different ways,” Riddiough said. “She’s a mature person who garners respect from everybody and leads by example.”
“Kristine Suapengco, who’s been our captain for three years and is injured this season, does the organizational side, which most girls aren’t willing to do. And on top of that we’ve got Weber who is a tremendous player and leader, and DeRosa who’s older than everybody and has got a different type of outlook,” Riddiough added.
“Players who get the recognition and others who don’t get the accolades they deserve; they’re all willing to work hard for each other, and that sets a nice example for the younger players.”
The Pride now find themselves in the middle of a three-team race for the regular season conference championship. A win and a loss by either James Madison or William and Mary could bump Hofstra into second, and a loss by both teams would give the Pride the regular season title. No matter what the scenario, Hofstra will count on its experienced core to lead them into the playoffs and these seven appear ready for the challenge.