The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team defeated the Brown University Bears on Sunday, Feb. 22, at Stevenson-Pincince Field in Providence, Rhode Island. With the win, the Pride improved to 2-1 for the young season.

The Pride scored the first point of the game when Taylor Mennella converted on a free-position shot with 14:04 in the first quarter. Brown answered not even a full minute later, when Mia Mascone scored to get things going for the Bears. Hofstra took control for the rest of the first quarter, starting with a score from Katie Whelan. Amanda Guerra also found the back of the net with 10:32 to go, assisted by Mennella. Arianna Esposito rounded out the first quarter with a goal to extend the Pride’s lead to 4-1.

After a scoreless first five minutes of the second quarter, the Bears scored with 9:39 left to go, cutting the deficit to two. Hofstra’s Whelan then notched her second goal of the afternoon, finding the back of the net with just under four minutes to go. The Pride took a 5-2 lead over Brown heading into the second half of the game.

Hofstra came out hot in the third quarter, scoring five consecutive goals to extend its lead, 10-2. Whelan scored the first three goals of the second half, while Mennella connected on two. The Bears ended the third quarter on a high note, as Jackie Mason found the back of the net with 1:32 left to play. The Pride was very efficient in the third quarter, converting five of its seven shots on goal.

Mason scored once again for Brown to start the fourth quarter, as the Bears looked to stage a late rally, trailing 10-4. However, Hofstra responded with two consecutive goals by Kerry Walser and Guerra to extend the lead, 12-4. The Bears played to the very end, adding three more goals to its total, but it was not enough as the Pride took home the 12-7 victory.

Leah Caputo and Mason each had two goals for the Bears, with Caputo adding an assist. Erin Tucker made 11 saves in the defeat.

For Hofstra, Whelan had five goals on the day with eight shots on net. Mennella converted three goals on five shots, while also adding one assist. Guerra also had multi-score day, scoring twice with three shots on goal. Jess Smith came through with 12 saves for the Pride.

Hofstra comes home for the first time this season, as the Pride host Fairfield University on Saturday, Feb. 26.