EXCLUSIVE - Fran Tortora Returns Home, Joins ‘Phins

The Le Moyne Dolphins are gaining a champion-caliber student-athlete via the transfer portal, in Francesca Tortora.

Tortora won a sectional championship with the Cicero-North Syracuse (CNS) Northstars in the state of New York during the 2021 season in a game where she had three goals and one assist, including two goals scored late in regulation to force extra time in a 12-11 victory versus the Baldwinsville Bees. That season was unfortunately cut short with no state playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A native of Syracuse, New York, Tortora spent her entire childhood growing up just minutes from the Le Moyne College campus.

“Le Moyne was the right choice for me because I would be able to live at home,” said Tortora. “My family, friends, and younger girls I coach/train would be able to come to my games.”

“From a lacrosse standpoint, Le Moyne just recently switched from [NCAA] D2 to D1 and I thought it would be really cool to be able to contribute to Le Moyne hopefully winning their first conference championship this year,” she added. Le Moyne is currently entering their third year in transition from the NCAA Division 2 to Division 1 level, and are full members of the Northeast Conference (NEC).

Tortora comes to the Dolphins after being a member of the Stony Brook Seawolves, also an NCAA Division 1 lacrosse program. She recorded her first collegiate career point while a member of the Seawolves, that coming on an assist against William & Mary on April 11, 2024. She also played in her first NCAA Division 1 tournament while at Stony Brook, coming home to face Syracuse in the 2024 season.

But after spending three academic years at Stony Brook, Tortora felt that the remaining chapters left in her collegiate career would be written elsewhere.

“I originally entered the portal because I just wasn’t happy playing where I was,” she expressed. “The day-to-day was extremely hard to get through and I knew I needed a fresh start and a new environment, and I certainly wasn’t going to sit at a school where I wasn’t happy just because I was too scared to transfer.”

“I knew that regardless of whatever happened, everything would be okay.”

Tortora comes to Le Moyne after already receiving not one but two Bachelor’s Degrees in just three years, graduating from Stony Brook with dual-major degrees in psychology and business.

Now, just as Tortora has always done on the field, she will continue to push herself in the classroom. “Le Moyne academics were also a huge part of my decision,” she shared. “They have an amazing mental health counseling program which is what I’m majoring in for my masters.”

Tortora has had to overcome adversity over the years, progressing through a tumultuous time without answers, ultimately being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and then learning how to play with it.

“All of it is so bitter sweet,” Tortora expressed. “I’ve obviously faced some health issues the last couple years and to be able to step back on the field, in my hometown, with girls I’ve played with my whole life and the people that got me through the last couple years being able to be at my games means the absolute world.”

Tortora will have two years of eligibility beginning in the upcoming season.