By Stacy Troiano
Simon Riddiough’s first year as women’s soccer head coach did not go entirely as he had planned. Last fall the Pride lost a handful of key players to injury early in the season, and they were never able to get their grip, narrowly missing a spot in the CAA tournament. But after an encouraging spring, the upcoming season looks promising as fresh and healthy legs return to a lineup ready to recapture its successful ways.
Forward Carol Leurini and midfielder Edel Malone, who was the 2005 CAA Rookie of the Year, were both starters on the 2005 conference championship team, and both missed the entire 2006 season due to knee injuries suffered in the off-season. Defender Jess Crankshaw, another starter, tore her ACL just four games into last season and missed the remainder. All three key players will be back for the upcoming season.
The Pride lost only one senior this year in defender Bree Best, and with the incoming freshmen, Riddiough believes this team can only get stronger.
“We’ve got five freshmen coming in who we expect to get quality minutes, and I expect the three [Leurini, Malone, Crankshaw] who were injured last year to have an impact right away,” Riddiough said.
In 2005, Hofstra won the CAA championship in its first trip to the title game, and moved on to their first ever NCAA tournament. But an injury-plagued season last year spoiled the chance at a repeat. They finished 9-8-2 overall and just 5-5-1 in the CAA and missed out on the conference tournament.
Midfielder Marie Curtin led the Pride in scoring last year with 16 points on five goals and six assists on the season. Forwards Larkin Hargraves and Jill Lipari finished second and third respectively in scoring last year, and will look to continue their offensive ways in 2007, while proven scorers Leurini and Malone will add to the Pride attack.
At the other end, Hofstra boasts one of the better defenses in the conference, anchored by two-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-American Sue Weber. Crankshaw returns to the defensive unit along side juniors Kariena Richards and Kristine Suapengco.
Riddiough worked a platoon at the goalie position last season with Krystal Robens and Krysten Farriella, but during the spring season the injury bug bit again, as Farriella went down with a knee injury that Riddiough believes will sideline her for the better part of the upcoming season.
With most of the pieces of the Pride puzzle coming back together for the 2007 season, Riddiough has set high goals for his team.
“For the talent we have and are bringing in, I think realistic goals would be to win the CAAs or at least get to the finals,” Riddiough said, “and then move on to the NCAAs.”
Riddiough said that the Pride find itself in an interesting new situation this season in that there is so much talent that there will be competition at every spot.
“It’s probably the most talented team we’ve had depth-wise from one to 24,” Riddiough said. “It’s the first year that we’ve got very good competition for most positions. Everyone is going to have to play a role and accept that role, however big or small.”
Midfielder Diane Caldwell agrees that the competition for spots will help the Pride to be more competitive and bounce back after last year’s less than optimal performance.
“We’ve got a great mix of youth and experience within the team, and the new freshmen coming in will add competition for places, which is greatly needed,” Caldwell said. “But I think everyone is positive and confident and excited for the new season to start.”
The Pride report for preseason in early August, which is what Riddiough says will lay the groundwork for the start of the season.
“The first weeks of preseason should dictate what we need to do and who needs to play where for us to be most successful in the fall,” he said.
Hofstra opens the season on August 31st at home against Cornell, and they play six more non-conference games before opening CAA play on September 28th against Towson.