The Hofstra University women’s lacrosse team opened their Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) slate of 2024 with a win on Saturday, March 16. The Pride conquered Campbell University 13-10 on the road. Melissa Sconone led the team in scoring with four goals, while Kerry Walser and Taylor Mennella each had hat tricks for the Pride.
This was the first all-time meeting between the two programs. With this win, Hofstra is 1-0 in conference play with a 4-4 overall record. The Fighting Camels are now 0-1 in CAA play with a 3-5 season record.
It did not take long for the visitors to take the lead, as Walser scored unassisted less than a minute into the contest to give the Pride the edge. However, that lead lasted only 40 seconds as McKenna Duncan evened the score at one with her 12th goal of the season.
Campbell took the lead on a goal by Bridget Ahlgren to make it 2-1 with just over eight minutes left in the first quarter. Lexi Goff made it a 3-1 Camel lead two minutes later off the feed from Hailey Kohlmann. The Pride was able to bring the deficit to one, as Julia Harris scored on a man-up advantage, making it 3-2 on her second tally of the season. However, the hosts weren’t phased and Goff scored her second of the game to close out the first quarter.
Entering the second quarter with the score 4-2 in favor of Campbell, more than five minutes passed before Taylor Mennella scored her first goal of the game on a man-up advantage. One minute later, she scored her second goal, tying the game at four apiece.
Ally Heath then gave the Camels the lead right back, firing a shot past Hofstra keeper Luchianna Cardello to make it 5-4. Lauren Coletti only took half a minute to even the scores at five, getting her sixth goal of the season.
Sconone, who was coming off a five-goal performance from the Pride’s previous game, scored just after Coletti to give the Pride their first lead since the beginning of the match.
Down 6-5 after halftime, Joslin Hanbury knotted the score at six at the beginning of the third quarter. Hofstra then made four unanswered goals. It started with Sconone hitting her second goal, followed by Kristen Redding scoring her fifth of the season. Walser added to the carnage with her second of the game, rocketing the ball past Natalie Mellen of Campbell. Taylor Mennella then finished her hat trick with just under seven minutes left in the third.
While Hanbury scored her second for the Camels to end the quarter at 10-7, Sconone completed her goal trifecta, making it 11-7 to begin the fourth. After Heath scored to make it 11-8, Sconone answered once again to make it 12-8. Hofstra sealed the deal less than a minute later when Walser secured her hat trick. Hanbury scored twice more to make it 13-10, but it was too late for Campbell.
Sconone has now scored nine times in the last two games for Hofstra. Taylor Mennella has recently made program history, becoming the 15th player to score 100 goals and is now tenth all-time in points with 154 for Hofstra women’s lacrosse.
The Pride returns home to the James M. Shuart Stadium on Friday, March 22, to host the College of William & Mary. Opening face-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Geoffrey Bolte
