"The Stony Brook women's lacrosse program is excited to add a player of Janine's caliber to the team," Spallina announced Tuesday. "I've been watching her play for years, first at Farmingdale High School and then at the University of Florida. She is an incredible talent, and her addition will make our team that much stronger."
Hillier is coming off a spectacular 2011 season with Florida, helping lead the Gators to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship in just the second season of the program. She had 34 goals and six assists, more than doubling her goal total from her freshman season. She was named to the IWLCA All-South Region second team and was an All-American Lacrosse Conference second team selection.
In 38 career games with the Gators, Hillier posted 49 goals and 14 assists for 63 points. She converted 10 of 34 free position attempts and had 38 ground balls, 53 draw controls and 23 caused turnovers.
Prior to joining Florida, Hillier led Farmingdale to the 2009 New York State Championship, recording 52 goals and 25 assists that season. She was named a first-team All-American by US Lacrosse and Under Armour and was ranked in the top 25 among 2009 incoming freshman recruits by Inside Lacrosse Magazine. She led Farmingdale to four straight Nassau County and Long Island championships and finished her high school career with 164 goals and 143 assists.
Hillier joins a talented Seawolves team that has 13 returning letterwinners, four transfers from Adelphi and 10 incoming freshmen that will play for Spallina, who is in his first season with Stony Brook after winning three consecutive NCAA Div. II national championships as the head coach at Adelphi.
