The Hofstra University’s women’s lacrosse team displayed its strength, finesse and coordination as a unit on the field with a win over Fairfield University on Saturday, Feb. 26, at James M. Shuart Stadium.

The first quarter started off slowly, with both teams trading possession multiple times. The Pride scored the first goal of the home-opener 10 minutes into the quarter, followed by another clean goal with 3:19 left on the clock.

 The Pride really started warming up against the weather, with senior attacker Grace Langella scoring her first goal of the season 3:20 into the second quarter. This was met shortly after with a free position goal from the Stags by midfielder Kelly Horning, which was followed by two more free position goals from the Pride’s midfielder Taylor Manella and attacker Katie Whelan.

“I think the team was moving the ball faster than we usually do [in the first half], which was really great to see,” said Hofstra head coach Shannon Smith.

In the fourth and final quarter, Hofstra scored two more goals, one by Mennella less than four minutes into the quarter. This was her second of the game and ninth of the season. With 8:44 left to play, moving at remarkable speed to Fairfield’s goalie, Langella made her second goal of the game as well as second of the season. This brought the Pride up to nine points, leading with the largest advantage over the Stags by six points.

 The Stags didn’t allow that advantage for long, scoring with 4:37 left to play and then again with 2:45 left on the clock. Defender Shannon Boyle got a turnover for Hofstra, flying right through the Fairfield attack team to give the Pride another chance at scoring. Boyle’s efforts reached Langella, who took a shot at the Stags’ goalie, who blocked the ball from going past her. This left the the final score at 9-5.

The Pride dedicated its win to Morgan’s Message, an organization that promotes mental health awareness amongst student athletes of all ages. Prior to the start of the game, both teams held a moment of silence for Morgan Rodgers, a Duke lacrosse player who tragically passed away to suicide in 2019, followed up by a brief ceremony from the field talking about the importance of mental health.

“[O]ur players know that there’s always support … with anything that they’re struggling in,” Smith said.

“[T]he coaches do a really great job of letting us know that they’re always there for us,” said goalie Jess Smith. “Like Shannon says, if we do need a day, she’s always willing to give someone a mental health day or just talk to them.”

The women’s lacrosse team now stands at a 3-1 overall record, and its next face-off will be another home game, against the University at Albany on Saturday, Mar. 5, at 3 p.m. at James M. Shuart Stadium.

Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein/The Hofstra Chronicle