2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #46 Hofstra Pride

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019.

We’ve already begun looking back to 2018 with some team recaps thus far and continued our series last week with UMBC, Providence, Drexel, Army West Point, and High Point.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#46 Hofstra Pride

Conference: CAA
2018 Record: 6-8 (2-3 in CAA play)
Postseason: Lost to UMass in CAA semifinals
Head coach: Seth Tierney (12th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Ryan Tierney (27)
Assists: Ryan Tierney (22)
Points: Ryan Tierney (49)
Faceoffs: Kyle Gallagher (138-of-247; 55.9%)
Ground balls: Kyle Gallagher (92)
Caused turnovers: Brett Osman and Tanner Griffin (10)
Goals against average: Jack Concannon (7.81 GAA)
Save percentage: Jack Concannon (56.6%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: G Jack Concannon (7.81 GAA, 56.6% SV %, 23 GBs), D Brett Osman (22 GBs, 10 CTs, 1 G), D Tanner Griffin (21 GBs, 10 CTs), M Dylan Alderman (14 Gs, 13 As), M Brendan Kavanagh (11 Gs, 3 As, 14 GBs), M Alex Moeser (8 Gs, 11 As), D John Puckhaber (17 GBs, 7 CTs), SSDM Mark Ellis (25 GBs, 8 CTs, 1 G), SSDM Brenden Lynch (9 GBs, 6 CTs), SSDM Luke Gomez (3 GBs, 2 CTs), A Trevor Kupecky (3 Gs), SSDM Mitch Kingsley (13 GBs, 3 CTs), LSM Liam Blohm (11 GBs, 2 CTs)
Senior scoring departing: 65 of 190 points (34.2%)
Senior starts lost: 92 of 140 (65.7%)

Season Summary

With the loss of Josh Byrne, a noticeable hole was left in the Pride offense. Sophomore Ryan Tierney became the quarterback of the offense, but it ended up not being enough for Hofstra to win the CAA.

Compared to last year where the Pride scored more than 10 goals in 12 of their 14 games, Hofstra only achieved that mark four times in 2018. Three of those occasions came during the team’s four-game winning streak earlier in the season after slow starts against Ohio State and Villanova. The Pride mounted notable wins against North Carolina and Monmouth and were beginning to ride momentum.

That is until they faced Lehigh at home, which resulted in a 13-8 loss. Following that loss, Hofstra lost three of their next four games to below .500 teams, all of them by a goal. Their only win in that stretch game against Towson at home. They earned a 16-8 win over Drexel, but fell to UMass in the regular season finale before losing to them again a few days later in the CAA semifinals.

Along with Tierney, junior Jimmy Yanes and freshman Dylan McIntosh completed the attack unit with 35 and 24 points respectively. The first midfield of Dylan Alderman, Brendan Kavanagh, and Alex Moeser also recorded double-digits in points. Right behind them was freshman midfielder Dominic Pryor with three goals and six assists.

Along with the first midfield, the starting close defense of Brett Osman, Tanner Griffin, and John Puckhaber was also all seniors, along with LSM Liam Blohm and short sticks Mark Ellis, Luke Gomez, Brenden Lynch, and Mitch Kingsley. Goalie Jack Concannon had another solid season in goal.

Looking Ahead

Graduation leaves many holes everywhere besides the attack unit of Tierney, Yanes, and McIntosh. Pryor started four games for the Pride last season and appeared in 11 total. Outside of the three attackmen, the only other returning players on offense who recorded points were sophomore midfielder Ryan Kinnard with a goal and an assist and freshman midfielder Bryce Tolmie with two goals. There will be plenty of competition for playing time come the Fall.

Nearly the entire defense will have fresh faces for 2019, except for FOGO Kyle Gallagher. Look for sophomores Michael Altmann and Eric Wenz, as well as freshman Keegan Santos and junior Brian Philbin, to get plenty of increased playing time. The goalie spot is a huge opening with Concannon graduating. Freshman Jacob Coleman appeared in two games for 2:23 of playing time. Sophomore Robert Casey appeared in one game in 2017 for a full quarter. So experience is lacking in that position.

Here’s who the Pride will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.