Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY 115492300

New York Northeast

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Shannon Smith

Shannon Smith, a three-time first-team lacrosse All-American who is among the most decorated players in the sport, is in her 12th season as the head women's lacrosse coach at Hofstra University.

Smith became the ninth head coach in the history of the Hofstra women’s lacrosse program in July 2012.

Smith has coached the Pride to 84 wins in her 11 seasons. Her 84 wins are the second-most in program history.

This past season she had a pair of players earn postseason honors from the Colonial Athletic Association as the program endured some key injuries throughout the season. In 2022 she led Hofstra to nine wins and another postseason berth. Four student-athletes earned postseason honors from the CAA, while graduate student Shannon Boyle garnered All-America honors from Inside Lacrosse.

In 2021, Smith and the Pride posted six wins on the season, including three wins over nationally-ranked opponents and the team earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament where it nearly upset #9 Loyola Maryland. The NCAA Tournament appearance was the program’s first since 2007. It marked the most wins over ranked opponents since the 2010 team also defeated three nationally-ranked squads. Hofstra finished the season ranked 23rd in the nation by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association and the Pride had five players earn All-CAA honors and Alyssa Parrella earned All-America accolades.

During the shortened 2020 season, Smith led Hofstra to a 4-3 record facing one of the nation’s most difficult schedules.

In 2019, Smith guided the team to a 12-win campaign and a spot in the CAA Championship Game. The 12 wins were the most since 2010 and the appearance in the championship game was the first for Hofstra since 2013. It was a banner year individually for the Pride as six Smith-coached players earned postseason awards including Alyssa Parrella who was the CAA Player of the Year and became the ninth IWLCA All-American in program history.

The 2018 campaign saw Hofstra win eight games for the second consecutive season against a schedule that featured seven teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The future was on display for Hofstra in 2018 as well as all four of the Pride’s postseason honorees from the CAA were either sophomores or freshmen.

In 2017, Smith led Hofstra to eight victories as the program took a major step forward and upped its overall win total by five victories and increased its CAA wins as well. Individually she oversaw the development of several standouts, as Alyssa Parrella, Drew Shapiro, Alexa Mattera and Darcie Smith all earned awards from the CAA. Parrella arguably had one of the best freshman seasons in the nation as she picked up CAA and ECAC Rookie of the Year accolades.

Hofstra won a trio of games in 2016 as the team was decimated by injuries throughout the season. Following the season four Pride student-athletes would earn awards from the CAA, including Lindsay Scott as a member of the first team and Lindsey Alfano on the second team.

The 2015 season would see Smith lead Hofstra to an 11-win season and a regular season CAA title after finishing the regular season with a perfect 6-0 mark in conference play. It marked Hofstra’s first-ever perfect season in CAA play and the first time the Pride went undefeated in regular season league play since going 6-0 in the America East Conference in 2001. In just her third season at the helm of the program she led Hofstra to the number one seed in the conference tournament for the first time since the 2007 campaign. Smith’s stellar season leading the Pride garnered her CAA Coach of the Year accolades. She became the first Hofstra coach to win that award since 2005.

Smith has led Hofstra student-athletes to significant awards during her time at the helm. Brittain Altomare became Hofstra’s eighth-ever IWLCA All-American when she was named to the third team in 2015. She also garnered CAA Player of the Year honors, the Pride’s first-ever CAA Player of the Year honoree and first since 1996. She also coached April Iannetta to back-to-back CAA Defensive Player of the Year Awards in 2013 and 2014, as well as Becky Conto to the 2013 CAA Rookie of the Year Award.

In 2014 Hofstra compiled eight wins while finishing 12th in the nation in scoring defense. Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Gregerson ranked fourth in the country in save percentage and eighth in goals against average. In addition to Iannetta’s Defensive Player of the Year trophy, five other players received All-CAA accolades and two ( Altomare and Iannetta) were named to the IWLCA all-region team.

In her first season at the helm, Smith led the Pride to an 11-8 mark and a berth in the CAA Championship game. The Pride posted a six-win improvement from 2012 and ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense, ground balls per game and caused turnovers. Iannetta shared the CAA Defensive Player of the Year Award, Conto took home CAA Rookie of the Year accolades and Altomare set a new school record for assists under Smith’s tutelage.

Smith also has extensive coaching experience in the professional ranks as well as in the summer of 2016, Smith coached the Long Island Sound of the United Women’s Lacrosse League to the title in the inaugural season of the professional women’s lacrosse league. She added to her professional experience in 2018 as she was named the head coach of the New York Fight of the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League and has served in that capacity for the past two years.

Smith completed a four-year playing career at Northwestern in May 2012. Among her many highlights included winning three NCAA titles, earning three first team All-American honors (2010, 2011, 2012) and capturing the 2011 Tewaaraton (presented annually to the NCAA women's and men's lacrosse player of the year) and lacrosse Honda (recognized as the top collegiate female athlete in her sport, and the award is considered by many as one of the highest honors a female college athlete can receive in the nation) Awards.

Smith’s incredible career at Northwestern was recognized in 2017 as she was inducted into the Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame. In addition, she was also inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Smith is very adept at the business side of lacrosse as well. Since 2009, she has served as a director with Long Island Top Guns girls lacrosse club. Smith has assisted with every aspect of the club and helped organize and coach a training program for over 300 players. From managing the business side of the club to coaching teams, Smith has played a vital role in the development of one of the top club programs in the area. Through her work with Long Island Top Guns, Smith manages a total of four camps, while overseeing a staff of over 20 people.

Smith’s immense experience at the highest level of lacrosse continues with her extensive US Lacrosse career. She was named to the roster for the 2012-14 U.S. women’s national senior team. Smith also was part of the 2011-12 U.S. women’s national training team and the 2007 U.S. women’s national under-19 team. As a member of the U-19 squad, she helped lead the team to the Gold Medal at the 2007 World Cup.

In June 2012 Smith coached the North squad at the 2012 Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic.

A key player on three teams that captured NCAA titles at Northwestern (2009, 2011, 2012), Smith was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2011 and 2012 Championships. During her career, she scored 58 points in the NCAA Tournament to rank second all-time in that category.

Smith is not defined solely by her postseason honors and awards, though, as she totaled 254 goals, 108 assists and 362 points during her career. She closed her playing career ranked first in program history in goals, second in points and third in assists. Her 86 goals in 2011 are a single-season record for the Northwestern program. In addition, she ranked eighth all-time in NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse in points and ninth in goals at the conclusion of her career.

She played in 91 games during her career at Northwestern, adding 118 draw controls, 85 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers. Smith had 19 game-winning goals during her career and her 2011 season was her most prolific with 86 goals, 42 assists, 128 points, 39 draw controls, 25 ground balls and eight caused turnovers.

Smith has done charitable work in the Long Island community as well. She is actively involved with the Friends of Jacyln Foundation and Our Lady of Grace Garden. She also helped lead a group of counselors at the South Bay Elementary School (West Babylon, New York) Lacrosse Camp to raise $6,500 towards the reconstruction of the school after a fire. At Hofstra, she has continued the women’s lacrosse programs involvement with the HEADstrong Foundation as well as the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation.

A native of West Babylon, New York, Smith attended West Babylon High School where she was a six-time letter-winner and was a member of the varsity squad starting in seventh grade. Smith was one of the top scholastic lacrosse players to ever come out of Long Island as she had 729 points on 505 goals and 224 assists during her career. Both the points and goals totals are New York state records as are her 129 goals in 2006.

Smith received her bachelor of science in liberal arts, with a major in economics and minor in business institutions program, from Northwestern. She also earned her master’s in sports administration from Northwestern and a MBA in finance from Hofstra in 2022.

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Alexa Mattera

Alexa Mattera, who starred for Hofstra from 2017 to 2021, is in her second season as an assistant coach with the Hofstra women’s lacrosse program.

Mattera joined the Hofstra staff after serving as an assistant coach at Long Island University for a season.

She also has extensive club lacrosse coaching experience having worked with Long Island Top Guns Inc. and LacroSSe by 3 Inc. since 2017.

Mattera had a spectacular career with the Pride as she totaled 125 goals, 27 assists, 152 points, 209 draw controls, 114 ground balls, and 60 caused turnovers over her five seasons in a Hofstra uniform. She ranks sixth all-time in program history in goals and 10th in Hofstra history in points. In addition, her draw control total is the second-most at Hofstra and the fifth-most in Colonial Athletic Association history. A four-time postseason honoree from the CAA, she was an All-CAA First Team selection in 2019, earned second team honors in 2021 and 2018, and was a CAA All-Rookie pick in 2017. Mattera was also a member of the Pride’s 2021 NCAA Tournament team.

Mattera has done extensive work in the community as well, taking part in Night to Shine, Hofstra’s Shake-A-Rake, the Tunnel To Towers Run, Holiday Magic, Surfers Healing, Julia’s Rainbow Foundation, and multiple HEADstrong Foundation events.

Mattera earned her undergraduate degree in linguistics from Hofstra in 2020 and received her master’s degree in education in 2021.

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Sam Santeramo

Sam Santeramo is in her second season as an assistant coach with the Hofstra women’s lacrosse team.

Santeramo came to Hofstra after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Mount St. Mary’s University in 2019 and 2020, helping the Mount to an impressive 22-4 record over the two campaigns.

She has also worked at multiple lacrosse clubs, including Long Island Top Guns, Liberty Lacrosse, Team Elevate Lacrosse, and the Police Athletic League.

Santeramo had a spectacular career for the Bulldogs as she appeared in 71 career games and made 67 starts for Bryant. She compiled an impressive 46-16 record in net, winning at least 10 games each season and totaled 494 saves during her career, along with a 9.03 goals against average and a save percentage of .483. She is Bryant’s all-time program leader in save percentage, goals against average, goalie wins, and ranks second in career saves. She was a two-time All-NEC First Team selection (2016 and 2017) and also earned All-NEC Second Team honors in 2018. She was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams at Bryant in 2015 and 2017.

Santeramo also has experience in the corporate world having worked for the past year as an assistant account consultant with Savoy Associates and also with International Benefits Administrators prior to that.

Santeramo earned her undergraduate degree in marketing with a minor in communications from Bryant in 2018. She completed her master’s degree in sports management in 2019 from Mount St. Mary’s.

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Seth Tierney

Seth Tierney became the fifth head coach in the history of the Hofstra men's lacrosse program in August 2006.

Tierney completed his 17th season as head coach in 2023. In his 17 years at the helm, Tierney has led the Pride to 132 victories, the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association championship, the 2009, 2011 and 2014 CAA regular season titles, and berths in four consecutive NCAA Championships from 2008 through 2011. He has also coached 15 student-athletes who have earned All-America honors and 76 who have earned all-conference accolades.

Extremely active in the growth of the sport of lacrosse, Tierney served as an assistant coach on the gold-medal winning United States Men’s National Team in 2018 and 2023. He also serves as the Chairman of the professional Premier Lacrosse League Advisory Board that began competition in 2019. Two Hofstra alums, Jack Concannon ’18, and Josh Byrne ’17, were named to the inaugural PLL All-Star Game with Concannon earning Most Valuable Player honors. Two more Pride alums, Finn Sullivan ’16, and Brendan Kavanagh ’18, were named to the 2019 MLL All-Star Game. In 2023, Hofstra men’s lacrosse alumni Josh Byrne ‘17 (Canada) and Zachary Pall ’12 (Israel) played for their respective national teams at the World Lacrosse Championship.

Tierney served as an assistant coach at Hofstra from 1995 through 2000 before leaving for a similar position at his alma mater Johns Hopkins University. During his six-year tenure as an assistant, Hofstra recorded six consecutive winning seasons with a combined overall record of 61-28 and a conference mark of 29-2, captured five league titles, received five top 15 final national rankings, and played in four NCAA Championship tournaments.

Tierney also coached seven All-Americans and nearly two dozen all-conference players during his first tenure at Hofstra. Among them was midfielder Doug Shanahan, who would receive the inaugural Tewaaraton Trophy as College Lacrosse Player of the Year, the Lt. Ray Enners Award as the Division I Player of the Year, and the Lt. Donald McLaughlin Award as the Division I Midfielder of the Year in 2001.

The 2023 Pride won five games with a roster beset of injuries as the team was involved in five one-goal games during the season. Daniel Ochs earned All-CAA First Team honors and also USILA Scholar All-American accolades. The Pride would also receive the USILA Academic Team Award.

Tierney and the Pride earned six wins in the 2022 season. Four members of the team received national and conference postseason honors, including Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American Bryan McIntosh. McIntosh was drafted in the third round of the 2022 PLL College Entry Draft, making him the seventh Hofstra men’s lacrosse alum on an active PLL roster that season. In the classroom, the team received the USILA Academic Team Award, and Bryan McIntosh and Mac Gates were named to the USILA Scholar All-America Team.

In 2021, Tierney and the Pride recorded eight wins, including two over nationally-ranked opponents, and advanced to the CAA Championship Game. Six players received national and conference postseason honors, including CAA Offensive Player of the Year and USILA Second Team All-American Ryan Tierney. In addition, long-stick midfielder Michael Altmann was selected to compete in the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game and became the men's lacrosse program's first CoSIDA Academic All-American® when he was named to the 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America® At-Large Third Team. In addition, the Pride received the USILA Academic Team Award and several student-athletes were named to the USILA Scholar All-America Team.

During the shortened 2020 season, Tierney and the Pride went 4-3 against a challenging schedule while posting a 3-1 home record. On November 12, 2020, Tierney was announced as an inductee to the Long Island Metro Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He was inducted in January 2022 as a member of the 2020 Class.

In 2019, Hofstra, in a rebuilding mode to replace seven starters and facing a schedule that included six nationally-ranked opponents, opened the season with a win over 13th-ranked Lehigh. But key injuries and inexperience created a 5-9 season. Three student-athletes earned All-CAA honors and two seniors were named to the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game. In 2018, the Pride defense ranked second in the nation on their way to a second consecutive trip to the CAA Championship semifinals. Goalie Jack Concannon earned his second consecutive All-America honor, six student-athletes earned All-CAA accolades and four seniors were picked for the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game.

In 2017, Hofstra opened the season with 10 consecutive victories and rise to number two in the national rankings. The Pride advanced to the CAA Championship semifinals before suffering a one-goal defeat and ending the season at 11-3. In the process, then-senior Josh Byrne earned CAA Player of the Year honors as well as All-CAA first team honors joining four other Pride first team selections. Freshman Ryan Tierney earned CAA Rookie of the Year honors and was one of two all-conference second team picks as well as one of two all-rookie team selections. Goalie Jack Concannon earned USILA All-America second team honors and All-CAA first team accolades.

In 2016 Hofstra recorded a 9-6 record including a big victory over eventual national champions, North Carolina, and returned to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship for the fifth time in his tenure. Finn Sullivan earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors and joined a league-high four other Pride players on the All-CAA first team. Two more were named to the All-CAA second team and four seniors were selected for the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game.

During a difficult season in 2015 that saw the Pride drop seven games by two goals or less, seven Pride players were named to the All-CAA team led by CAA Player of the Year Sam Llinares and fellow first team selections Ryan Rielly and Kris Clarke. Four seniors were named to the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game and two seniors earned USILA Scholar-Athlete honors.

In 2014 Hofstra recorded its fourth double-digit victory season during his tenure, posting an 11-5 record and placing 14th in the final coaches poll. The Pride also captured the CAA regular season title with a 4-1 mark and advanced to the conference tournament championship game where they fell to Drexel in triple-overtime, 11-10. Hofstra ranked eighth in the nation in defense, allowing 8.44 goals per outing behind junior goalie Chris Selva, who ranked sixth in the country in goals against average. Eight Hofstra players earned All-CAA honors led by junior Ryan Rielly and sophomores Sam Llinares and Finn Sullivan, who were CAA first team selections. Llinares also earned USILA All-America honorable mention accolades as well. For his hard work, Tierney earned CAA Coach of the Year honors for the second time during his Pride tenue.

In 2013 the Pride possessed one of the top defenses in the country, ranking third in goals against average (7.79) and climbing as high as sixth in the national media rankings and seventh in the coaches rankings. Included were victories at second-ranked Notre Dame and 13th-ranked Fairfield during a 7-7 season. In 2012 Hofstra battled through some key injuries on the offensive side and was involved in eight games decided by two goals or less during a 6-8 season. The Pride enjoyed great success, both on the field and in the classroom. Andrew Gvozden was named a USILA Scholar-All-American and the CAA Men's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year and six players were named to the All-CAA Team led by first team selection Adrian Sorichetti.

In 2011 Hofstra recorded a 13-3 record, captured the CAA regular season title and earned its school record-breaking fourth consecutive bid to the NCAA Championship. In addition, the Pride had four players, Jay Card, Mike Skudin, Andrew Gvozden and John Antoniades, earn USILA All-America honors. Card, Skudin, Antoniades, Ian Braddish and Adam Mojica were named to the All-CAA first team while Gvozden, Steven DeNapoli and Jamie Lincoln were voted to the second team. Skudin, who was selected the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, also earned USILA Scholar All-American and CAA Men's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. To close out the year, Skudin, DeNapoli and Card were named to the North-South Senior All-Star Game with DeNapoli leading all goal scorers in the contest with three.

In 2010 the Pride made its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship and finished the year with a 9-5 record. Hofstra had two players named to the USILA All-America team, five named to the All-CAA team and two more named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. In 2009, Tierney directed the Pride to an 11-4 overall, a 6-0 mark during the CAA regular season and his second NCAA Championship bid. Five Hofstra players were named to the All-CAA Teams, including first team selection Jay Card, who was voted the CAA Player of the Year. In addition, four Pride players were named to the USILA All-America team and one was voted to the USILA Scholar-Athlete All-America Team. For his efforts, Tierney was named the CAA co-Coach of the Year.

The 2008 season saw Hofstra make a return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus. The team posted a 10-6 record and won the CAA title in a thrilling overtime win over Drexel. Leading scorer Anthony Muscarella was named an honorable mention All-American, while Kevin Unterstein was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and Jay Card earned CAA Rookie of the Year accolades. In addition, seven players received All-CAA honors and the Unterstein brothers, Kevin and Michael, were named North-South Game All-Stars and were both selected in the Major League Lacrosse Draft.

In his first year at the helm of the Hofstra program, Tierney took over a team that returned one starter from 2006's NCAA Quarterfinal squad and led them to a 6-8 record that saw seven losses decided by one goal. The team qualified for the CAA Championship, saw one of its star players - Kevin Unterstein - earn honorable mention All-America honors and had seven players named to All-CAA teams, including three All-Rookie selections.

Tierney returned to Hofstra after a six-year tenure at John Hopkins, with the final two seasons as associate head coach. As the Blue Jays offensive coordinator, he was the architect of one of the most potent and explosive offenses in the nation. Tierney directed the Blue Jays attack that finished second in the nation in scoring margin, sixth in scoring offense and 16th in man-up offense during Hopkins' NCAA title run in 2005. The Blue Jays led the nation in scoring offense and man-up offense in 2003 and finished fifth in both categories in 2004.

In Tierney's final season at Hopkins the Blue Jays posted a 9-5 record, advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals, and ranked in the top 15 in the country in four statistical categories. A total of 21 Blue Jay midfielders and attackmen earned All-America honors during Tierney's tenure in Homewood. Among them was Kyle Harrison, a two-time first team All-America, who received the Tewaaraton Trophy and the Lt. Enners Award in 2005 and the McLaughlin Award in 2004 and 2005.

Tierney played for the Blue Jays from 1988 through 1991 and served as team captain as a senior. He helped lead Hopkins to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, including an appearance in the 1989 NCAA title game. He received Hopkins' Turnbull-Reynolds Award as a senior as the player most exemplifying leadership and sportsmanship. Tierney was also selected to play in the North-South game as a senior.

After graduating from Johns Hopkins, Tierney continued his playing career by playing three seasons of indoor lacrosse for the New York Saints before serving as an assistant coach for the Saints for two seasons.

Tierney and his wife, Maureen, have two children - a son, Ryan, who was a member of the Hofstra team from 2017-2021, and a daughter, Erin, who was a member of the Hofstra women's lacrosse team from 2019-2022. The Tierney family resides in Massapequa, New York.