Haverford's McCarthy Making Splash in NCAA Field Hockey

By Jim Sheehan, Special to Havertown Patch

Hofstra senior defender Melissa McCarthy, a Havertown, Pennsylvania native, was a key member of the Pride defense during Hofstra’s 1-0 non-conference victory over 12th-ranked Boston University in Hempstead, New York Sunday afternoon.

The Pride have one of the most experienced defensive lines in the Colonial Athletic Association and the 5’2 McCarthy is a big part of it. In addition to the Haverford High School graduate, the Pride starting defense features seniors Kerry Kiddoo (Chapel Hill, NC), senior captain Codi Nyland (Washington, NJ) and senior Krizia Layne (Arima, Trinidad).

McCarthy came to Hofstra in 2011 after two years at Millersville University, where she was a two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) selection. Hofstra Head Field Hockey Coach Kathy De Angelis knew the type of player she was getting in McCarthy, “Melissa has the talent, experience and versatility to play anywhere on the field,” De Angelis said. “She is dedicated, hard-working and a threat on both ends of the field."

In her first year with the Pride in 2011, McCarthy played in 17 games and started eight on defense and at midfield.  She suffered a broken jaw in the Pride’s game against Northeastern last October 21 and missed the final four games of the year. She recorded three assists on the season. Hofstra posted a 13-8 and advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship semifinals.

The 2012 season has been even better for McCarthy, who has started all 14 games and tallied three goals and two assists and is third on the team in goals and points. She tallied two goals at VCU and one at Saint Joseph’s in September. Sunday’s victory over Boston University is the Pride’s third shutout of the season as Hofstra improved to 6-8 on the season.