By Stacy Troiano
I've spent the past seven days trying to figure out what to write as my last effort as the women's soccer beat writer. Only now, hours before deadline, have I gathered the words.
If someone told me four years ago when I stepped onto the Hofstra campus for the first time that by senior year I'd not only be the women's soccer beat writer, but I'd be eagerly following them on their quest for history, I might have to call you crazy.
Then two years ago, I started watching the team, and I saw one of the best goalkeepers in the country lead an immensely talented team to a CAA title. That team went on to make the first ever NCAA tournament appearance in women's soccer history, but lost in the first round after a valiant effort against a very strong West Virginia team. Then last year, in came the injury bug and out went dreams of a conference championship repeat as the depleted Pride missed the playoffs.
Over the summer I was given the women's soccer team as my beat for the fall season. At this point I eagerly accepted the role because I'd grown into a big fan of the team, so I couldn't pass up an opportunity to step outside of the fan zone and into the journalist zone with a team I was so interested in.
Fast forward to this season. This record-breaking season. Eighteen wins, sixteen different goal-scorers, twelve shutouts, six shutouts in a row, and 53 wins by the senior class, tying it for the winningest class in women's soccer history. Another CAA title, and another shot at the NCAA tournament.
By now you probably know the results. Beat Ohio State 1-0 in the first round to get the program's first ever NCAA tournament win, and brought top-seeded Penn State to the wire-within 14 seconds of what would've been one of the biggest upsets in recent history to be exact. But the Nittany Lions had a few things on their side last Monday night and they pulled off the 2-1 comeback win in overtime.
I was able to attend Friday's win over Ohio State as a fan, not as a journalist, and thanks to some November snow, it turned out to be the last game I'd see. I couldn't have picked a better one. There was something in the air that night at Jeffrey Field. The Ohio State fans-a group of whom came up to me and asked, "we've never even heard of Hofstra, where is it?"-had no idea what they were up against. The anxious enthusiasm of the Hofstra faithful, the quiet confidence of the blue-clad Pride, the snow falling from a pitch black sky; it was a scene that could make anybody step back in awe.
When the last whistle blew, and after all the wild cheers had subsided, I started to think about what I had just witnessed. I watched the underdogs-not necessarily according to the statistics, but by the name on the front of the jerseys-take down Goliath, and do it with dominance. The team I'd watched for three years and grown to love was there under the lights making history, and doing it before a slew of doubters. How could an Ohio State lose to a Hofstra, in anything? I bet those Buckeye fans know where the Pride come from now.
After the emotional loss to Penn State, for a while, I was at a loss for words (very rare, for a journalist). You had it. I thought so before the game, and with 30 seconds to go, I was home standing on my chair with fists raised in triumph and pride. They were going to do it; they were going to shock the soccer world. Then 16 seconds later, the color drained from my face. It remains one of those things that I'm not sure I'll ever fully believe or understand. But after a lot of thought, my message to you girls is to be proud. Stand tall and keep your heads up because one game, no, 14 seconds do not define your season. What you've accomplished has not gone unnoticed, and your performance and your fight have garnered the respect of the nation's elite. I wish more than anyone that this was another game story rather than a season wrap-up, but the cookie crumbled another way this year. I am confident that there will be more tournament wins in the Pride future.
So in writing this column, I have violated almost every basic rule we learn as budding journalists. I've brought myself completely into my writing, I'm way too attached to my subject, and I am biased to the point that I think this women's soccer team fields the most admirable group of players in the country. I've found it very difficult, especially in the past few weeks, to balance being a journalist with my exuding pride about what this team has accomplished for themselves and for our school, but when it comes down to it, I'm honored to have been around to see something so amazing.
To you girls I'd like to say thank you. I'm set to leave this campus for the real world in a few months, and thanks to what I've learned from all of you on and off the field, I leave a changed person. I don't expect you all to know what I mean or why, just know that I respect what you've been able to do, and you've really shown me the true meaning of hard work, determination, resiliency and class. I think most of all, though, because of you, I'll leave here always remembering-even 20 years down the road-that pain is temporary, Pride is forever.