NCAA Lacrosse Player Blogs: Hofstra’s prep for Cornell, Card-isms and Freedom Tour Bus customization

The Game

It’s tourney time! After a tough loss in the CAA playoffs, the Dutchmen were fortunate enough to receive an at-large bid to the playoffs and a matchup with Cornell up in Ithaca, NY. It should be a great game. The first whistle blows at 5pm Saturday, May 9th on ESPN U. So if you can’t make it to the game, make sure to tune in on the U.

YouTube Video of the Week

I dedicate this week’s YouTube video of the week to Mr. Tom Dooley and the rest of Ranger nation.

Interview with Sean Lucas

1. What is your most memorable non-lacrosse experience?
Two weeks in Puerto Rico this winter with some friends and family. It’s really nice there. Great waves. I love it.

2. If you could have dinner with any three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Thomas Jefferson- I would like to hear what he would have to say about the state of our country. Marcus Luttrell- He’s a true American Hero. Joe Frasier

3. If you could switch places with anyone in the world for a day, who would it be and what would you do?
Brian Schneider and be a true American.

4. What are your top 5 movies ever?
1. Forest Gump; 2. The Shawshank Redemption; 3. Fletch; 4. Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation; 5. Top Gun

5. What is your Favorite Song?
“Club Love” - Taylor Swift and Usher Mashup.
Runners up: “Pints of Guinness Make you Stronger” –Against Me
The Downeaster “Alexa” –Billy Joel
“In an Aeroplane Over the Sea” –Neutral Milk Hotel

Word Association with Sean Lucas:

Red, White, and Blue- Common
Long Island- Blow-Outs
Hofstra University- Dutch School
Freedom- Tour
The Swamp- Shanty
Sean Lucas- America
Dutch- Prefix

Freedom Tour

A group of fellow Hofstra lacrosse players led by a Sean Lucas and a few of the seniors recently purchased a mini-school bus. They ripped out the seats, put seats from a conversion van in it, and painted red, white, and blue. The bus will be departing from Long Island at the end of May and traveling across country until they reach Tom Shuey’s house in Texas. This cross-country bus trip will be known as the Freedom Tour. Below are some pictures of the bus and its transformation from a yellow school bus to the Freedom Bus.

The new cheesewagon

Tom Dooley and Sean Lucas

Sean Lucas at work

Work in progress

Work in progress

Work in progress

Work in progress

Ready to Roll

Cardisms and their American Translations

For any of you who have ever played lacrosse with a Canadian, I’m sure that you have noticed that they have a few sayings on the field in that distinct accent that are bit different than what you are normally used to hearing. Well, Hofstra’s very own resident Canadian, Jay Card, is no different. Below are some of Jay’s well-known sayings and nicknames that of course, come with an American translation.

1) Ey Bahd- Hello friend
2) Floodgates- free reign on the goal
3) Egg and spooner- a player with terrible stick skills
4) Cheeswagon- a yellow school bus
5) Dogballs- greasy, old lax ball
6) Busee- bus driver
7) Hairy high helmet- a player who wears his helmet too high and thus looks through the wrong holes on the facemask
8 ) Bobby Bigwheel- someone who is not good with girls
9) Put the dog bone in the chewbin- put the ball in the net
10) YumYums- cute girls

Cardism Nicknames

1) Trunks/Stumpy- Stephen Bentz
2) Marbles- Mike Colleluori
3) Cheese- Ryan Carter
4) Temps- Adam Swarsen
5) Meat- Michael Hamilton
6) Yums- Tom Dooley
7) T-Bone- Coach Tierney

Blog Notables

-Hofstra Junior Tyler Brant turned 21 this week. Happy Birthday Tyler!
- Following the conclusion of this season, I will be entering my name in this summer’s MLL draft. I feel that I am mentally and physically prepared for the league, and am excited about continuing my reign on the professional level. To end any potential controversy, I will be signing an agent after the season. Scott Boras and Drew Rosenhaus have already expressed interest in representing me, but I will be considering all avenues and opportunities presented to myself. I am looking to play on the east coast this summer and am not afraid of pulling an Eli Manning and demanding a trade if I don’t like the team I am drafted by.

As always, till next week, keep your head to the grindstone and God Bless America!

(as seen on InsideLacrosse.com:)

http://blogs.insidelacrosse.com/2009/05/08/ncaa-lacrosse-player-blogs-hofstras-prep-for-cornell-card-isms-and-freedom-tour-bus-customization/

NCAA Lacrosse Player Blogs: Hofstra ‘Cribs’, Volume 2

The Game

The Pride won two huge back to back conference games beating Delaware 10-8 Saturday in the Big City Classic at the Meadowlands and then followed that up with a 12-7 victory over a tough Drexel squad Wednesday night at James M. Shuart Stadium.

Jay Card led the way with five goals and two assists for the Dutchmen and freshman goalie Baby Gvozden made 11 saves Saturday at the Big City Classic to preserve an important CAA victory. Jack Vivonetto and Adam Swarsen led the defense with another all-out effort and Tom Dooley added two important second half goals to help the Pride win on the big stage.

Against Drexel, Tom Dooley led the charge with four goals, including career goal 99, as the Pride won against an extremely resilient Drexel squad. Jay Card and Anthony Muscarella added three goals apiece and junior midfielder Sean Lucas scored the first goal of his career in another conference win. On defense, Steven DeNapoli and Steve Prifte led the charge while Joe Montemurro scrapped his way to another fine outing at the faceoff x.

The Dutchmen travel south next as they face the Towson Tigers Saturday at Unitas Stadium at 1 p.m.

YouTube Video of Week

Check it

Hofstra Dad Celebrity Look-a-Like

Mr. Muscarella-Billy Joel

Interview with Steve DeNapoli

1) What is your most memorable non-lacrosse experience?
Visiting Mike Skudin in Long Beach this past summer was an unforgettable time.

2) If you could have dinner with any three people dead or alive, who would it be with?
Alex Trebek, I love Jeopardy, and Brennan Huff and Dale Doback from Step Brothers.

3) If you could switch places with anyone in the world for a day, who would it be with?
Derek Jeter. I am a huge Yankees fan and he’s the man.

4) What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Schoolwork or logging in some couch hours at the Senior Lax House or napping.

5) Who has been the biggest influence on your life and why?
My biggest influence has to be my brother Dominick. We were very close growing up and he has taught me a ton of life lessons.

6) What was your best childhood experience?
I got to see Roger Clemens win his 300th game at Yankee Stadium.

7) What has been the best vacation that you’ve been on?
My sophomore year in high school, my lacrosse team went to Orlando, FL. We had some great seniors on our team that made the trip hilarious.

What are your summer 2009 plans?
I am currently interviewing to be the next Steve Prifte. Since he has to be at school for football in the fall, his brother Keith needs a partner in crime for the summer. I can say that I am probably a lock for the position.

9) If you could play another collegiate sport, what would it be?
Football. If I was a little taller and bigger, I would love to be the next Wayne Chrebet.

10) What is a little known fact about you?
I have never been outside of the country or west of the Mississippi.

Hofstra Cribs II

For this week’s Hofstra Cribs edition, I visited the Junior lacrosse house, aka “The Swamp” (as evidence by the green paint on the exterior seen below). This house is rumored to have been one of the original houses on Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad. It is also rumored to have been built by the Amish in only thirteen hours.

The house members include Dan Stein, Tom Interlicchio, Sean Lucas, Isaac Neal, Tyler Brant, and Kevin Hannon. Although those six are technically the residents of the house, some will argue the house actually has seven residents, with that seventh being Dan Orlando. Cole Koesterer and Mike DeNapoli also visit on occasion. Below the housemates pose for a family portrait in front of their American flag.

Above, we see Dan Stein’s room. He recently switched from a zebra to a tiger theme comforter. Also, if you look closely at on top of bed, you’ll a pair of dog slippers, which Dan recently purchased from the mall and has been known to wear quite frequently.

Above, Tom Interlicchio is hard at work in his room. Tom’s room has been known as the VIP lounge before, during, and after social events. Tom has taken to his role as host DJ during such social events. If you’ve made it into his room during these events, it is a safe to say that you have made it in life as well.

Above is Isaac Neal’s room. Isaac constantly has his cloths “borrowed” from his walk-in closet and would like everyone who still has articles of his clothing(particularly hoodies and sweatpants) to kindly return them and would ask that no one borrow anymore. Isaac thanks everyone for their timely cooperation.

Above, we see Sean Lucas’ room. Fun fact about Sean’s room is that is used to be a kitchen when the Swamp was split into two homes. Also, the house phone resides here.

Above, we see the spot of many bonfires held in the backyard. Naturally, only the usual non-flammable goods are burned such as metal brooms, cans, bottles, and multiple other items that don’t burn. This spot has also seen the end of many pairs of shoes, sandals, and hats.

Above, the housemates are on their way to a pregame meal in Dan Stein’s vehicle, nicknamed Lexington Steele.

House Fun Facts

• Favorite Movie: The Heartbreak Kid- although the house’s favorite genre of movies is scary movies
• Favorite activity: Hitchcocking- This is when one or more people stand in shower and wait for someone to come in and then they frighten that person who just walked in. Named after famous movie director Alfred Hitchcock and the movie Psycho. Tom Interlicchio is rumored to be the most frequent target.
• Holes in the walls are covered up by posters.
• There was no heat in the house this past winter except in Isaac’s room. The rest of the house had to tough it out.
• Dan Stein has had to break down his door three times and Sean Lucas has done the same to his door twice. All five of the incidents occurred because they each lost their room keys.
• Sunday Night has become family television time. Favorite television shows include Entourage, Eastbound and Down, True Blood, and pretty much anything on MTV.
• After nine months of living on a floor bed, Tyler just this past weekend bought a brand new bed frame so now has a real bed on which he can sleep. Tyler also ended up with the smallest of all the rooms and you may be wondering how. Well, in the middle of this past summer, all of the housemates drew straws for who got what room. Since Tyler was busy working back home in Maryland, he was unable to make this house meeting. The housemates, being such considerate and thoughtful guys that they are, had a proxy fill in for him. Tyler still lost the straw drawing and contends to this day that the drawing was fixed.

Till next week, keep your head to the grindstone and God Bless America!

(as seen on InsideLacrosse.com:)

http://blogs.insidelacrosse.com/2009/04/10/ncaa-lacrosse-player-blogs-hofstra-cribs-volume-2/

NCAA Lacrosse Player Blogs: Hofstra Cribs Edition

The Game

The Dutchmen came away with another big conference win this past Saturday as they beat Robert Morris in a CAA matchup 11-5. The big story of the game is that ten different Pride players scored goals including one apiece from the defensive rope of Steve Prifte, Steven DeNapoli, and the first career goal for Tim Holman. In net, Baby Gvozden made eight saves, many of the spectacular kind, to preserve his fourth win in his rookie season. On defense, Adam “A-Bomb” Swarsen and Mike “The Cat” Skudin once again played well.

Up next for the Pride is the Big City Classic at the Meadowlands for another huge conference matchup with the Delaware Blue Hens. It should be another exciting game so don’t miss it!

YouTube Video of the Week

In what will become a weekly staple of my blog, I will be including a YouTube video that will be a must see. This week’s video comes from Mobile, Alabama where it seems a leprechaun is on the loose.

I want the Gold!!!!

Interview with Keith Prifte

1) What is your most memorable non-lacrosse experience?
All of my high school senior year.

2) If you could have dinner with any three people dead or alive, who would they be?
George Washington, JP Morgan, and John Candy.

3) Are you a Mac or a Windows guy and why?
Mac. I’m a sucker for anything with an Apple logo on it.

4) What is your favorite restaurant?
My favorite restaurant at home is called the Library. They have the best salad bar in the world. Up here at school, my favorite is Grand Lux. Their lemonade is unreal.
5) If you live anywhere, where would it be?
The two places I want to move to after graduating are New York City and Washington D.C. I also want to move to a completely random country for a couple years someday.

6) What was your senior high school prank?
On our senior trip to Walt Disney World, we all decided to sprint to the hotel pool at 1am while a certain room played a song. Only about twenty of us did it, but it was hilarious.

7) What was your first college goal?
Well, I only have one and it was the last goal against Sacred Heart last year. It is now famously referred to as my game winning goal. My dad is building an awesome train set which has Hofstra’s stadium on it and that score is going to be on the scoreboard.

If you were stranded on an island, what three items would you want?
A Chic-Fil-A, my friend Bob because he is constant entertainment, and a bom-box.

9) What are your favorite movie performances?
My three favorite movie performances are Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights, Tom Hanks in Forest Gump, and Morgan Freeman is The Shawshank Redemption.

10) What is a little known fact about you?
At the end of the summer, my parents and I found a nest of baby flying squirrels in our attic. I took care of two of them for a month hand feeding them with an eye dropper. Unfortunately, they both died for unknown reasons. I’m going to buy two more once I get my own place because they were awesome.

Hofstra Cribs- The 1st Edition

In the first edition of Hofstra Cribs, I visited the Senior Lacrosse House. This has become the go to hangout of the Hofstra lacrosse team after games and for after hour events. The house members include Ryan Carter, Steve Prifte, Tom Shuey, Keith Prifte, and Jack Vivonetto (as seen below). This house also has many very, very frequent weekly visitors such as Anthony Muscarella, Mike Skudin, and Steven DeNapoli (seriously, they are extremely frequent visitors).

The housemates

Down time

In this picture, Tom Dooley, Ryan Carter, Keith Prifte, and Tom Shuey are enjoying some nice quality time together in the main gathering area of the house. Notice on the left wall, the American flag is flying, a natural staple of any real household. On the back wall, we have a holdover from the Devon lacrosse house (the junior house last year). This majestic oil painting was given as a gift to the Priftes and Devon house about eighteen months ago by Lynchburg University’s finest, Bob McGrath. Bob junk picked it at a nursing home that he worked at and knew he had to have it. It has held a place of honor ever since.

Uh oh.

This warning notice was placed over the kitchen sink by Steve Prifte. Apparently, Steve is the only one who cleans dishes in the household and other house members leave their dirty dishes in the sink. Steve has recently had to discard multiple fine china plates due to a lack of effort in the household when it comes to cleaning them. The Senior House now only uses the finest of paper plates.

Senior House kitchen

Red Room Garage

The Red Room Garage (above). It is used primarily for after hour events. The decorating of the Red Room is courtesy of Keith Prifte and Tom Shuey. Those of you who followed the 2008 Presidential Race may recognize the red carpet as it is the same red carpet used for the third and final presidential debate, which was held at Hofstra. Now inquiring minds may be wondering how the house acquired such a token as the presidential debate carpet. Well, Jack Vivonetto was walking around the outside of the basketball arena where the debate was held and saw the red carpet just lying in a dumpster. Figuring it had some sort of value, Jack took almost 200 ft. of this carpet out of the dumpster with the intent of selling it on EBay as a souvenir of the last presidential debate. I mean, such stars as John McCain did walk on it. Anyways, anyone interested in such a wonderful souvenir as the one and only red carpet used for the 2008 third and final presidential debate may contact us. Also, the senior house has the staircase that led up to stage. Again, John McCain walked up those very steps.

NHL '09

Above, we see Steve Prifte and Ryan Carter playing NHL ’09 on PS3. This has become the go-to video game of the 2009 Dutchmen. As a side note, in my one and only game against Ryan Smith and only my second time ever playing, I won 1-0 and thus lead the season series one game to none.

Call of Duty

Above, we see senior captain Jack Vivonetto in his room playing Call of Duty 4 on his Xbox 360. As you may notice, there are stairs in the middle of his room and that may seem a bit odd to readers and rightfully so. That’s because Jack lives in Tom Shuey’s hallway. Jack originally lived in the basement of the house, but because of the HUGE crickets down there, he was too scarred to live down there and decided a move to Tom’s hallway would be for the best.

Sweet FatHead

Above, we see Steve Prifte’s room. Steve is a diehard New York Giants fan so of course, as any diehard fan would, he has a fathead on the wall of perhaps the greatest linebacker to ever play in the NFL, Lawrence Taylor. You may also notice a television stand against the far wall that has no television. His recently went MIA and if anyone has seen it, please contact us immediately.

Carter's spot

Finally, as we see above, Ryan Carter is relaxing on your standard futon. However, you may see several notable items above him. Naturally, the flag on the left side of the wall was a gift from me to the house. To the right of the flag, there is a 2009 Hofstra Pride poster. Above that is a Newsday paper with Bernie Madoff on the cover. The seniors put the picture up because Madoff looks a lot like a certain Dutchmen player’s father. We also have a souvenir towel from a 2009 Giants Divisional playoff game, which they lost.

Senior House favorite place to eat: Ralph’s Italian Ices

An interesting tidbit about the house: The landlord of the house, Tom, is a former Ole Miss quarterback and a former Vietnam pilot, who currently resides in Georgia. One day over this past summer, he came to visit the house and check up on the guys, and the first thing he noticed was that the colors were proudly being flown outside the house. He told the guys how awesome it was that the American Flag was flying and proceeded to say that the United States is not the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave; but rather, it is the Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave.

Till next week, keep your head to the grindstone and God Bless America!

(as seen on Insidelacrosse.com: )

http://blogs.insidelacrosse.com/2009/04/02/ncaa-lacrosse-player-blogs-hofstra-cribs-edition/