The Hofstra University women’s lacrosse team fell to the Black Knights of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a score of 18-11. The Pride fell to 1-3 overall on the season while Army picked up their first win, improving to 1-4.
The game was tight in the first half as Army only held a 6-5 lead at halftime, with Nikki Mennella’s first-half hat trick making up most of Hofstra’s offensive output. While the Pride stayed tight with the Black Knights early in the third quarter, Army turned an 8-7 lead into a 13-7 lead with a 5-0 run to take control of the game. Army outscored Hofstra in three of four quarters en route to their victory.
Nikki Mennella shined for Hofstra despite the loss, scoring three goals for her second hat trick of the season, bringing her goal total so far this season to nine. Nikki Mennella also added two assists, giving her five points on the day and 14 total this season. It has been a successful return from injury for the redshirt freshman who has picked up right where she left off after losing most of her season last year to a knee injury. Taylor Mennella also added a goal and two assists in the losing effort.
Junior midfielder Megan Flannery found the back of the net twice on Saturday which doubles her season goal total from two to four and adds her first assist of the season.
Melissa Sconone rounded out the multi-goal scorers for the Pride, as the graduate attacker upped her season goal total to six with two tallies, as well as adding her seventh assist on the season. This was Sconone’s fourth multi-point game in as many contests.
The vast bulk of Army’s offensive load was carried by sophomore Brigid Duffy. The Preseason All-American scored seven goals and added four assists for a massive career-high 11-point performance. Duffy set the single-season points record for the Black Knights last season with 82 points and already has 18 goals and nine assists for a total of 27 points this season.
Sophomore Allison Reilly added six points for Army, with four goals and two assists. Rounding out the hat tricks, sophomore Lily Valentini added three goals for her first career three-goal performance. Valentini has nine points in Army’s opening five games.
The Pride return to Long Island where they will welcome the Seahawks of Wagner College who have started their season 0-2. Gametime is set for 3 p.m. at the James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, New York.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco
