Hempstead, NY - Hofstra Director of Athletics Jack Hayes today announced that the Pride Men's Lacrosse Team will host local rival St. John's University in a doubleheader that will feature three tournament teams from the 2011 NCAA Championship.
Hofstra, which was scheduled to play at St. John's in 2012, will instead host the Red Storm at James M. Shuart Stadium on Tuesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in the second game following a battle between Cornell and Denver at 4 p.m. The Pride finished 13-3 last season, won the CAA regular season title and made their school record fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Hofstra returns 28 players, including five starters, from last year's squad. The Pride will be led by senior goalie Andrew Gvozden, who led the nation in goals against average (6.01) and was third in save percentage (.602). Offensively, Hofstra will be led by junior Ian Braddish, who tallied 16 goals and 17 assists, and classmate Adrian Sorichetti, who posted 12 goals and one assist.
The Red Storm of St. John's were 4-10 in 2011 but return all six of their players who posted double-digit points led by sophomore Kevin Cernuto, who tallied 24 goals and 17 assists.
In the first game, the Big Red of Cornell, perennial national contender and 2011 NCAA quarterfinalist, will face Coach Bill Tierney's Pioneers of the University of Denver at 4 p.m. Cornell was 14-3 in 2011. The Big Red will once again be led by one of the top players in the game in senior Rob Pannell, who tallied 42 goals and 47 assists and was a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist as the top player in the game in 2011.
The young Pioneers posted a 15-3 record and made a charge to the NCAA semifinals last season. Denver will be led by senior Mark Matthews, who tallied 46 goals and 24 assists, and classmate Alex Demopoulos, who added 30 goals and 28 assists. Both Cornell and Denver were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by eventual national champion Virginia.
For more information about the exciting doubleheader please contact the Hofstra Box Office at 516-HOF-TIXX.