Adelphi University Athletics

Katherine (Hock) Bennett came to Adelphi University in the fall of 2001 from Mineola High School where she was a letter winner in soccer, basketball and lacrosse. As a Panther, she played for the women’s lacrosse team in their first official NCAA season in 2002 and would go on to be a part of the program’s first NCAA Championship team, etch her name in the record books in numerous categories that still stand today, and help lay the foundation for the dynasty that would be synonymous with a Division II women’s lacrosse powerhouse.

Hock led the Panthers in scoring each year she played while helping the squad to a four-year record of 48-9. In 2003, the team began making a name for themselves as they defeated Philadelphia University to take the ECAC Championship crown: their first team title of any type. A year later, Hock would lead the stickwomen to a 13-1 record and the program’s first NCAA Division II National Championship where the edged West Chester, 12-11 for the win.

Hock became Adelphi’s first All-American in the sport’s short history, earning Second-Team honors in 2002 and repeating the feat in 2003. She then earned First-Team kudos her junior and senior years, giving her four All-American nods.

Her accolades do not stop there; she was a two-time Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) First-Team All-Region performer, an IWLCA All-Rookie Team addition, IWLCA Division II Attacker of the Year and made the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll.

Additionally, she was a two-time NCAA All-Tournament selection, a three-time ECAC All-Star, once being named the Most Outstanding Player, was on the Tewaarton Watch List, a CoGIDA Academic All-District honoree and in 2005, was the Nassau County Sports Commission Female Athlete of the Year. Capping her stellar career, she was honored as an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholar.

Hock had a dominating career as shown in her strong presence in the record books. She appears a total of 10 times, six of which appear in the career section. She spent time as the all-time leader in goals with 224, and at the time of her induction, was fourth all-time in points with 272, fourth all-time in points per game with 4.77, ninth in assists with 48, fourth in game-winning goals with 10 and fifth in free-position goals with 20. In single season records, she sat seventh in points with 87 from the 2005 season, second in goals with 73 and tenth with 53, and third in free-position goals with 11.

Hock received her degree in psychology and elementary education in the spring of 2005, went on to earn her master’s degree in education and later earned a third degree in special education. In 2006, she made the transition from player to assistant coach, joining her teammates as they once again marched back to the top of Division II with their second title in 2006.

Currently, Hock is a special education teacher at the Alden Terrance Elementary School. She also coaches girls’ soccer and lacrosse at Mineola High School. She is married to Christopher Bennett and they have one child, Abigail Leigh.