Abby Morgan
Head Coach

Abby Morgan, a three-year assistant coach for the Pride, became the eighth women's lacrosse coach in school history on August 7, 2006. In her first season at the helm, she led her team to a 12-7 overall record, a 6-1 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) mark, the team's first CAA championship and its second ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

In addition, the Pride was ranked 16th in the final IWLCA Poll of the 2007 season, and Morgan also saw one of her star players, Kimberly Hillier, named a third team All-American and get selected to play on the United States Developmental Team.

The 2007 squad finished the year ranked 22nd in winning percentage (.632) and was 23rd in the nation in scoring defense (10.16 GAPG).

Morgan joined the Hofstra staff at the start of the 2003-04 academic year after a two-year stint as the top assistant at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

Since Morgan's arrival the Pride has totaled 45 wins, which ranks as the best four-year win total in program history. In addition, Hofstra has made three straight appearances in the CAA championship game and has been ranked nationally at the conclusion of each of the past four seasons.

Under Morgan's tutelage, nine Pride student-athletes have earned CAA postseason honors, and three members of the program have garnered All-America accolades. Morgan coached three of the greatest players in school history in Hillier, Becky Thorn and Casey McGrath. Hillier (twice) and Thorn were both All-Americans, while the three players earned All-CAA honors 10 times between them. The trio combined to score 413 goals and rank two, three and four on the career goals list, and are in the top five in career points and draw controls. Hillier's 73 points in 2006 is tied for the school record, as are her 82 career assists, while Thorn graduated as Hofstra's all-time leader in draw controls.

As an assistant coach, Morgan worked with the Hofstra defense, as well as serving as recruiting coordinator. Under her tutelage in 2005 the Pride ranked ninth in the NCAA in caused turnovers and All-American defender Bridget Eder led the nation in caused turnovers and was 11th in ground balls. Hofstra's goalkeepers also fared well under Morgan's direction as Maisie Osteen was sixth in the nation in goals against average, while Lisa Papa ranked 19th in save percentage. In 2004 the Pride ranked 10th in the NCAA in ground balls per game, and Eder led the nation in ground balls and was 11th in caused turnovers and draw controls, while Papa ranked 18th in the nation in goals against average.

In Morgan's first year as head coach, she launched her own company called InCrease Lacrosse Camps, Inc. The company provides quality lacrosse instruction and competition for girls of all ages. InCrease Lacrosse offers various clinics and camps throughout the year that introduce the game to newcomers and advance players to the next level. Through her work with InCrease Lacrosse, Morgan is continually developing youth lacrosse on Long Island while promoting Hofstra to the local community.

At Monmouth she helped guide the Hawks to Northeast Conference regular season first and second place finishes in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Morgan was responsible for developing the attack at Monmouth, and mentored four All-NEC attackers and five All-NEC midfielders during her tenure. Morgan was also the team's academic advisor and facilitated fund-raising efforts for the Hawks.

A 2001 graduate of the University of Connecticut, Morgan was a four-year starter and one of Coach Bonnie Rosen's first recruits. Morgan led the Huskies in scoring as a freshman and was third during her sophomore year. She finished her junior year eighth in the nation in assists and garnered the Husky Award for dedication to the Connecticut program. A captain as a junior and senior, she finished her collegiate career as UConn's single season (28) and career (63) leader in assists, and now ranks second in both categories. In addition, she is in the top five at Connecticut in goals, points and assists.

Morgan also excelled in the classroom where she was named a New England Scholar-Athlete and was a member of the inaugural All-Big East Honor Roll.

Morgan, who has a degree in human development and family relations, is a native of West Chester, Pennsylvania, and currently resides in New Hyde Park, New York.

Danielle Hensil Piercy
Assistant Coach

Danielle Hensil Piercy is in her second season as an assistant coach on the Hofstra Women's Lacrosse staff. Piercy, who is in her fifth year of collegiate coaching overall, will work with the Hofstra defense.

In her first season on the Hofstra sideline, Piercy helped lead the Pride to a 12-7 record, the Colonial Athletic Association championship and an appearance in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. In addition, Hofstra ranked 23rd in the nation in scoring defense at 10.16 goals against per game.

Piercy joined the Pride after spending two seasons at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She served as the top assistant for the Explorers and was involved in all aspects of the program. While at La Salle, Piercy coached two all-conference performers, including Emily Bonczek, who was selected as the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year in 2005. Prior to her stint at La Salle, Piercy served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Old Dominion, in 2004. A 2003 graduate of Old Dominion, Piercy earned CAA first team honors in 2003, in addition to being named to the CAA All-Tournament team. 

Piercy also serves as the assistant director of InCrease Lacrosse, which conducts several programs for girls' lacrosse players on Long Island. She is in charge of organizing and assisting in the administration of approximately six winter clinic sessions and two camps during the summer. Through her work with InCrease Lacrosse, Piercy continually promotes the development of youth lacrosse on Long Island.

Piercy, a 2003 IWLCA Academic All-American, graduated magna cum laude from Old Dominion in 2003, majoring in health with a minor in physical education. Piercy earned her master's degree in education from La Salle in 2006. During her playing career, Piercy, helped lead the Lady Monarchs to a school-record 13 wins in 2002. She was also a part of two CAA Tournament runner-up squads (2002 and 2003) and concluded her career with 124 goals, 39 assists and 163 points. All three totals rank in the top 10 all-time in Old Dominion history.

Piercy and her husband, Christopher, reside in Carle Place, New York.

Jessica O'Connell
Assistant Coach

Jessica O'Connell is in her second season on the Hofstra Women's Lacrosse staff. A former standout goalkeeper at Towson University, O'Connell will coach Hofstra's netminders.

In her first season on the Hofstra sideline, O'Connell helped lead the Pride to a 12-7 record, the Colonial Athletic Association championship and an appearance in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. In addition, Hofstra ranked 23rd in the nation in scoring defense at 10.16 goals against per game, while goalkeeper Maisie Osteen was 22nd in goals against average (10.01) and 31st in save percentage (0.478).

A 2005 graduate of Towson University in Towson, Maryland, O'Connell most recently served as the head junior varsity coach at Smithtown High School East in Smithtown, New York. Prior to her tenure at Smithtown, O'Connell was an undergraduate assistant coach at Towson. While a member of the Tigers staff, O'Connell was responsible for all aspects of goalkeeper training and preparation.  O'Connell aided in the development of Mandy Corry, who ranked second in the CAA during the 2005 campaign in save percentage (.547) and saves per game (10.47), and third in goals against average (8.86).

O'Connell has also served as a coach for the Yellow Jackets Club Lacrosse program since May 2004, working with both the junior (15-16 year olds) and senior (16-17 year olds) level squads. In addition, she has served as an instructor at a multitude of lacrosse camps.

A member of the 2004 CAA All-Tournament team and a North/South Senior All-Star team selection, O'Connell ranks fifth in saves all-time at Towson with 578. A four-year starter with the Tigers, O'Connell earned her degree in kinesiology and physical education.