Sachem Alum Yovino to Have Soccer Jersey Number Retired at Hofstra Univeristy

Just when you think Hofstra University standout midfielder Tiffany Yovino has earned all the honors she could accrue after her memorable season, another one comes out of nowhere for the Holtsville, N.Y. native. 

The college announced Tuesday that will retire Yovino's No. 18 jersey.

The actual ceremony won't be until a pre-game ceremony in the fall 2011 season, but that achievement is quite rare for women's soccer at the school.

Yovino will become the 24th Hofstra student-athlete to have a jersey number retired and only the second women's soccer player. She is the second Sachem alum behind to have his or her number retired at Hofstra. Last year, his No. 26 jersey was retired during a ceremony at Shuart Stadium.

She will join former All-American Sue Weber (2005-07), who had her number hung up in 2008. 

"Tiffany was an impact player from the moment she arrived at Hofstra as a freshman, and she just kept getting better and better," Hofstra coach Simon Riddiough said. 

Among Yovino's achievements this season:

• She played a vital role in helping lead the Pride (19-3) to the NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament with a team-high 12 goals. Hofstra won 18 consecutive games and the 19 wins were a school record.
• She was named a third team Division I All-America by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the Colonial Athletic Association's player of the year, becoming the first conference player of the year in the program's history. She will be honored at the NSCAA All-America luncheon in Baltimore, Md. on Jan. 15.
• She scored at least one goal in her final eight regular-season games, another school record.
• She was a part of more victories than any other soccer player in school record (58) as Hofstra went 58-21-4 with Yovino in the lineup.
• She also was named a first-team ESPN CoSIDA All-American with her 3.74 grade-point average as a dual major in early childhood education and history

 "She was as driven to succeed as anyone I've ever coached and has been a wonderful ambassador for our program for the last four years," Riddiough said. "She left everything she had on the field every time she put on a Hofstra uniform, and it's only fitting that we retire that uniform now that her career is over." 

Yovino could not be reached for comment immediately.