HEMPSTEAD, NY - This Saturday, April 18, during halftime ceremonies of the #7 Hofstra-#10 North Carolina game at James M. Shuart Stadium, Hofstra Athletics will retire the jersey numbers of two all-time lacrosse greats, Doug Shanahan and Jerry Simandl. They will become the first two Pride lacrosse players to have their numbers retired.

In an effort to acknowledge the outstanding accomplishments of numerous former student-athletes during the University's nearly 75 years of existence, Hofstra University announced last summer that a group of 20 former Pride athletes would have their jersey numbers retired. "The honoring of these 20 former student-athletes is a celebration of the outstanding history of Hofstra Athletics," commented Hofstra University Director of Athletics Jack Hayes.

Simandl (#10) lettered in lacrosse at Hofstra from 1952 through 1955 under legendary coach Howard "Howdy" Myers. He earned All-America second team honors as a senior in 1955 after leading the nation in scoring with 102 points and assists with 58 while placing second with 44 goals. He was also an all-conference Laurie Cox Division selection as a senior and was named to the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game.

Singled out as one of the top ten players that he ever coached by Myers, Simandl still holds the Hofstra records for most points and most assists in a single season, most assists and points in a career, and is third in goals scored in a career in Pride history. His finished his Hofstra career with 119 goals and 119 assists for 238 points. All four of his Hofstra teams were nationally-ranked, including the 1955 team that was ranked third.

Shanahan (#26), who played at Hofstra from 1998 through 2001, was a two-sport All-American athlete in both football and lacrosse. While a standout as a defensive back in football and leading the Pride in interceptions as a junior and senior, he excelled in lacrosse over his four year career at Hofstra. As Hofstra's most honored lacrosse player, Shanahan was a three-time All-America selection earning honorable mention in 1999, second team honors in 2000, and first team accolades as a senior.

In addition to his first team honors in 2001, he also earned: the Lt. Donald McLaughlin Award from the USILA as Division I Midfielder of the Year; the Lt. Ray Enners Award as USILA Division I Player of the Year; and the inaugural Tewaaraton Trophy as college lacrosse's Player of the Year.

Shanahan also earned All-America East honors four times, picking up first team honors as a freshman, as well as Rookie of the Year honors in 1998, as a sophomore in 1999 and as a senior in 2001 when he was also voted Most Valuable Player honors. He was voted to the second team as a junior. He was named to the 2001 USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game where he captured the Most Valuable Player award.

During his Hofstra career, he tallied 95 goals and 44 assists for 139 points, a school-record 450 ground balls while winning 528 of 868 face-offs for a .608 winning percentage. In 2002 Shanahan was named to the United States National Team for the ILF World Championships and earned the ILF's Best and Fairest Award, which is the equivalent of the Championships' Most Valuable Player Award. He was also voted to the All-World Team.

2009-04-16