DeNapoli leads Pride vs. Johns Hopkins

Undated handout photo of Hofstra lacrosse plater Steve DeNapoli.
Steven DeNapoli is the heart and soul of Hofstra lacrosse. He wears the uniform number of a beloved player in Hofstra history, the late Nick Colleluori, who exemplified great courage in his battle against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Since Colleluori's death in 2006, one Hofstra player has been awarded No. 27. DeNapoli has worn it well in his senior year, but his story started in high school, where he drew minimal interest despite scoring 48 goals as a Hewlett senior.
"Where are you from, 'Hewlett?' '' DeNapoli said he would hear of his school, not known as a traditional power in lacrosse. "Besides Max Seibald [who later starred at Cornell], no one has really made it big time.''
Hofstra was very interested, but not at the cost of a scholarship. "He was a terrific high school lacrosse player,'' coach Seth Tierney said. "That doesn't translate into being a terrific college lacrosse player. Steven, at that point in time, was in question as to what he may be able to get done. Pasuello told me he would play defensive midfield and be terrific at it.''
Four years later, the 5-9 DeNapoli is on a full scholarship. He is second on the team with 57 ground balls and tied for the team lead with 16 caused turnovers.
"He plays with the heart of a lion. His will to win is off the charts," Tierney said. "Steven DeNapoli will go down as one of the best Hofstra guys ever.''
DeNapoli and his teammates will need all that when the Pride (13-2) plays No. 3 Johns Hopkins (12-2) Saturday in an NCAA Tournament first-round game.
Hofstra was DeNapoli's first choice for as long as he could remember. "They were always a team I admired,'' he said. "I remember coming to watch the quarterfinals with my dad when I was young. They've always been a team I've paid attention to.''
DeNapoli thought back to his senior year, when there were no offers. "I was kind of lost. I didn't have a direction or a place to go,'' he said. "Coach Tierney was very honest with me'' about being unable to offer scholarship assistance. "I wanted to challenge myself; I wanted to play big-time Division I lacrosse. To play for what Hofstra's become, a top 10 team every year, is pretty special.''
DeNapoli's goal was to play as a freshman. "[The coaches] said we don't see you stepping in the field for us in maybe your freshman and sophomore year,'' he said. "I proved them wrong. That's what I've been doing all my life. Knock on wood, I haven't missed a game [58] in my Hofstra career yet.''
DeNapoli started receiving athletic aid as a sophomore and said he has been on a full scholarship the last two years.
DeNapoli was drafted by the Chesapeake (Md.) Bay Hawks of Major League Lacrosse. "I was sitting on the couch watching TV and I started getting a bunch of text messages congratulating me on being drafted,'' he said. "I finally looked it up online. I was pretty excited.''
If anyone ever doubted DeNapoli's resolve as an athlete, it wasn't the player himself. "It's all about how hard work actually does pay off,'' he said. "I've not always been the most skilled or talented guy, but I've worked hard.''