By Alana Pelosi, Sports Editor
The women’s lacrosse team rebounded on Monday, from their loss to Notre Dame, when they defeated Albany in come-from-behind fashion. The team’s second half offensive display helped achieve a 17-14 victory, improving its record to 2-1.
Despite going into halftime up 9-7 and then adding another quick goal from Stephanie Rice to boost its lead to 10-7, Hofstra allowed Albany to bounce back and score four unanswered goals. Hofstra senior Liz Falco responded with goal on a free position shot to tie the game, but that tie was short lived as Albany netted another three straight.
Down 11-14, the Pride made a few player adjustments and for the last 15 minutes held Albany scoreless. The Pride’s offense answered back with six goals, including two-apiece by Rice and CAA Player of the Week Corrine Gandolfi and one each from K’Leigh Vanaman and Jacquelyn Ardolino.
In the high-scoring matchup, Gandolfi, who netted a season high five goals, as well Rice and Falco, who added four and three goals, respectively, propelled the offense.
“We had to put it into the hands of our offense honestly because our defense wasn’t making any stops,” said head coach Abby Morgan. “Both goalies could have probably had more saves and definitely Jackie just struggled when she was in there.”
Just like the men’s lacrosse team, it appeared as though the women had yet to solidify a starting goalie. Senior goalkeeper Mary Cuddihy started all of last season, but in the first two games this season, it was sophomore Jackie Pandolf who earned the start in net.
Against Albany, Cuddihy was back to starting and had five saves in the first period before giving way to Pandolf, who started the second. As Morgan said, Pandolf struggled in the net and allowed seven goals before being replaced by Cuddihy to finish out the game.
Gandolfi, who will sorely be missed after she graduates in May, continued to cement her name in the Pride’s record books with her forty-third career assist, moving into the top-ten in school history.
“She was fabulous,” Morgan said of her star senior. “She took us on her back and that’s something that we’ve waited for her to be able to do and I think she’s ready for it. She is very confident and she really pulls the team together.”
Hofstra dominated draw controls during the game, winning 23 of 33. Albany won 19 ground balls compared to just 13 for the Pride. Hofstra outshot the Great Danes on the game 34 to 25, including 17 to 10 in the second half.
Gandolfi and her teammates will be on the road for the next week at Cornell on Saturday and then facing off against Pennsylvania next Wednesday. The Pride will finally return home to Shuart Stadium on Saturday, March 13 to host Rutgers.
Senior middie Liz Falco scored three goals as the Pride beat Albany 17-14 Monday afternoon at James Shuart Stadium. (Sean M. Gates/ The Chronicle)
