Hofstra women’s lacrosse team propelled by strong veteran performances
HEMPSTEAD N.Y. (BVM) — The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team finished the 2021 season with a 6-7 record and an appearance in the college playoffs, a culmination of hard work from veteran student-athletes.
This year, the Hofstra Pride went above and beyond expectations due to the stellar play from senior and three-year team captain, Alyssa Parrella. She started all 13 games, scored 45 goals and 18 assists for a team-high 63 points. Parrella proved herself to be the Pride’s most valuable player, leading the team in points, goals and drawn controls.
For her perfect season performance, Parrella won numerous accolades including being named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-American Third Team and All-CAA First Team, as well as being given the Dr. Nathalie J. Smith Hofstra Female Student-Athlete of the Year at the HOFSPYs. In her final season with the Pride, Parella set records with her 261 career goals and 355 career points ranking first all-time in both Hofstra and the CAA’s lacrosse programs.
Parrella’s play left an impact on teammates and Hofstra’s lacrosse coach, Shannon Smith.
“I think that they’re going to look back at the legacy that she left here with her leadership, her work ethic and the impact that she made on her teammates around her, but also the legacy in terms of how she left the program,” Smith said. “She put Hofstra back in the national ranking and she put Hofstra at the top of the CAA and she’s made a huge mark in our program.”
Parrella’s perfect season was supported by excellent performances from her veteran costars, Katie Whelan and Darcie Smith. This season, Whelan scored 20 goals for 39 points and led the team in assists with 19. Whelan finished her playing career ranked sixth all-time on her college’s assist list. She was named to the 2021 All-CAA Second Team and the CAA All-Tournament.
Smith, a graduate student and three year team captain became the program’s all-time leader in drawn controls with 232 and made an appearance on the All-CAA Second Team and the CAA All-Tournament Team. She was also known for her achievements off the field. Smith served as the vice president, media coordinator, and women’s lacrosse representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which netted her the Nick Colleluori Hofstra Female Unsung Hero Award at the HOFSPYs. The Hofstra Pride finished the 2021 season with a 6-7 record and a playoff berth. They lost in the CAA Semifinals against the No. 20 ranked James Madison Dukes and had a first round exit in the NCAA Division I Tournament against the Loyola Greyhounds.
