Corinna Delgadillo
With another season in the books for the Hofstra volleyball team, it’s time to say goodbye to a player who has been a staple of the back line for the last four seasons. Corrina Delgadillo, a libero from West Allis, Wisconsin, has been a constant presence in the Hofstra rotation since arriving in Hempstead in the fall of 2012.
Growing up, Delgadillo was around volleyball from an early age. “My sister played volleyball in college, she played at a D-III school in Wisconsin. She would always be pounding balls at us in the driveway and down the stairs.”
Delgadillo immediately received playing time, seeing the court in 35 matches as a freshman. She settled in as the team’s libero, a position that she played exceptionally well.
“It’s a lot of the nitty-gritty work … you don’t get a lot of praise for it, but you’re setting everything up for the people to kill it for you,” Delgadillo said.
In her four years at Hofstra, Delgadillo racked up 1,221 digs, including a career-high 396 digs in her final season. She won two CAA championships and appeared in two NCAA tournaments with Hofstra.
She had an exceptional run to close out her senior season, posting more than 14 digs in her last four games as a member of the Pride, including a career-high 38 in a win over Elon on November 13. She earned her first-ever CAA Defensive Player of the Week award for her performance in the final week of the season.
Now that her Hofstra career has drawn to a close, Delgadillo plans to find a job in health administration. “I’m looking to go back to Wisconsin, but it’s a rough world out there applying for so many jobs,” she said. “[My] end goal is to do something in a hospital.”
But trading in her volleyball uniform for work clothes doesn’t mean that Delgadillo is going to give up the game she loves.
“I’ll probably keep playing just for fun. I’ve been playing volleyball for so long, it’s impossible to just give it up … it’s always been with me.”
Patric Pray
Patric Pray of the Hofstra men’s soccer team had a terrific senior season for the Pride. As Hofstra’s starting goalkeeper, Pray was a crucial part of the Pride’s tremendous run in 2015.
The Chandler, Arizona, native transferred from the University of Washington after his freshman season. He immediately became an impact player for the Pride. In his three seasons at Hofstra, he has never had a save percentage worse than .790. He’s had 19 career shutouts and a win-loss record of 28-15. In total he’s allowed just over one goal per game over the course of his career.
During the 2015, season, the Pride went 14-8, including a 6-2 record in conference. Pray’s impact was felt immediately when he garnered nine saves in a 2-1 victory over number 15 ranked Syracuse. The Pride had three victories against ranked teams in 2015 and faced six overall. Pray only allowed 10 goals to those six teams, only allowing those opponents to score more than two goals once.
Pray was among the top goalkeepers in his class in 2015. He was second in the conference in save percentage with a .797 mark. He also far outpaced all of his peers in total saves, making 98 over the course of the season while the next-best total was 69.
Pray was a big help over the course of the season, posting a total of six shutouts during the regular season. He also didn’t allow a single goal throughout the CAA tournament, making eight saves. The Pride won the CAA tournament thanks to his efforts and moved on to the NCAA tournament.
Thanks to Pray, the Pride won its first NCAA tournament game in an overtime thriller against Lehigh by a score of 2-1. Pray had five saves in that outing. The Pride then went on to lose to Georgetown, the second-best team in the nation, but the season was not forgotten.
Pray’s senior season was certainly one to remember. The goalkeeper was an integral part of Hofstra’s success in 2015 and will be difficult to replace in the upcoming season. The Pride bring back a large chunk of the team for 2016, but it won’t be the same squad without Patric Pray holding steady in the net.
Leah Galton
Leah Galton will undoubtedly be missed.
The Harrogate, England, native ended her excellent four-year career with 122 points, the most in Hofstra program history. Galton also leaves her mark on the pitch — tied for most assists for the Pride with 26 and second all-time in goals with 48.
She is the first player in the Colonial Athletic Association to be crowned Player of the Year three times consecutively, since her sophomore season.
The Second-Team National Soccer Coaches Association of All-America selection posted 12 goals, six assists in her final season with the Pride, totaling 30 points.
She logged eight career multi-goal games, along with two hat tricks.
Galton helped lead Hofstra to two NCAA tournaments, as well as a conference championship in 2012. She became the second Hofstra women’s soccer player to be drafted by a professional team.
She was selected 13th overall in the National Women’s Soccer League draft by Sky Blue FC back in January, a team that has members of the United States Women’s National Team, such as Christie Rampone and Kelley O’Hara.
Galton’s versatility is unmatched. A forward for most of her career, she would move to the back third of the pitch if it meant helping Hofstra gain an edge over the opponent.
Back in 2012, Galton moved to defender in the conference semifinals against William & Mary. The team not only won the match, it shut out the Tribe to pave the way to the CAA championship.
Leah Galton will always be remembered as one of the top players to sport a Hofstra uniform and a consistent catalyst to a Pride victory.