Lucy Porter will make life miserable for CAA foes one more time in 2021. (Photo courtsey of Hofstra)
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Four Hofstra University women’s soccer seniors have pursued the opportunity to suit up for the Pride one final time, as Lucy Porter, Lucy Shepherd, Jordan Littleboy and Amanda Ebbesson have opted to return to Hofstra for a fifth season.
In late March 2020, the NCAA granted spring sport collegiate athletes an extra year of eligibility. When the COVID-19 pandemic continued its impact into the 2020-21 school year, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to fall and winter student-athletes as well.
“We are so fortunate and thankful for the opportunity to have these four student-athletes back at Hofstra for another year,” said Hofstra Head Coach Simon Riddiough. “Porter, Shepherd, Littleboy and Ebbesson are wonderful assets to our program both on and off the pitch and we are thrilled to see them suit up for the Pride one more time.”
Porter, a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American who became Hofstra’s first first team selection this past spring, returns for her fifth season as one of the top players to ever suit up for the Blue and Gold. She currently ranks third all-time at Hofstra with 91 career points and is third all-time with 41 goals. Following the non-traditional spring 2021 season, Porter was named the Colonial Athletic Association Midfielder of the Year for the second-straight season, earned the CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award, and was named the second MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in Hofstra and CAA history. Porter is a standout in the classroom as well, as she was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® and United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America First Team.
Shepherd has been another key attacking player for the Pride since the moment she stepped foot on campus. A two-time USC All-Region and All-CAA honoree, Shepherd has tallied 47 points over the course of her Hofstra career, tallying a career-high six goals, nine assists, and 21 points as a junior. This past season, she led the CAA with three game-winning goals, increasing her career tally to five. Following the spring season, Shepherd garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District® honors in addition to USC Scholar All-Region accolades.
Littleboy, a key player in the midfield who has also been a consistent starter since her freshman season, enters her final year with 19 points including two goals in 15 assists under her belt. Littleboy is a two-time All-CAA honoree, and she also earned a spot on the USC All-Region Second Team this season. Despite the shortened spring, Littleboy tallied a career-high eight points and six assists as a senior, with her 0.67 assist per game total ranking 12th in the nation. She tied a single-game Hofstra assist record with three against Towson on April 10.
Ebbesson returns for her third year with the Pride and fifth year overall as she transferred to Hofstra from the University of Bridgeport prior to the 2019 season. Since joining the Pride, Ebbesson has appeared in 27 matches and made 11 starts and while recording two assists as a defender thus far. She has played an important role on Hofstra’s backline as she helped the Pride to three shutouts this past spring.
The 2021 fall Hofstra women’s soccer season gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 19 when the Pride takes on Stony Brook University at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The Long Island Rivalry is set to kick off at 7 p.m.
