On Saturday, March 18, the Hofstra Pride University women’s lacrosse team began Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play against the College of William & Mary Tribe at Martin Family Stadium in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Pride lost their second straight game in a close matchup, 13-12. The Pride is now 3-6 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
The game started as a fairly even matchup between the two as the first quarter ended 2-2. Gilbert struck first for the Tribe a little under two minutes in, but the Pride scored their first goal off of a free position shot courtesy of Katie Kelly, marking her ninth of the season. The teams continued to trade shots and goalkeepers Luchianna Cardello and Elise Palmer kept their teams in the game with their saves. Emily Weigand scored the second goal for the Pride, marking her first of the season. Sydney Witwer tied it up with the second goal for the Tribe.
William & Mary dominated the second period as they outscored Hofstra 9-3. Less than a minute in, Maresa Moyer scored the Tribe’s third. Sarah Cipolla won the following draw control and immediately capitalized on it, as the fourth goal was scored by Ellie Shea. Hofstra recorded only one shot before William & Mary struck again. London Simonides scored the fifth and Palmer made a save to start the attack allowing Serena Jacobs to score the sixth goal.
Trinity Reed was called for a foul sending Simonides to take a free position shot, which she made to be the seventh goal of the afternoon. The Pride had a turnover which led to Simonides scoring the eighth goal for the Tribe, and almost a minute later, Moyer scored the ninth. Despite the large deficit Hofstra faced, they came back with three goals of their own. Megan Flannery scored the third for the Pride and it marked her fifth of the season. With a little under two minutes to go, Kerry Walser scored back-to-back goals as the Tribe still led 9-5. In the final minute, Justyce Barber and Kate Draddy scored the last two goals of the period for William & Mary.
The Pride was able to close the deficit once again as they outscored William & Mary 3-1 in the third period. Rachel Graff scored the first goal of the period off of a free position shot, marking her ninth goal of the season. The teams traded shots before Witwer scored the 12th for the Tribe. Walser once again scored back-to-back goals marking 16 goals on the season.
Hofstra tried their best to come out with the win, but a 13th goal from the Tribe gave them their second straight loss. Kate Fiola, Lauren Coletti and Graff scored in the final period for the Pride. Draddy scored William & Mary’s 13th goal which ended up being the game-winner as the Pride lost 13-12.
Cardello ended the game by making 10 saves and Palmer made 11.
Hofstra returns home to James M. Shuart Stadium on Saturday, March 25, to continue CAA play against Towson University at 12 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Evan Bernstein
