The Hofstra University women’s lacrosse team continued their undefeated run in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play on Saturday, March 28, taking down Towson University in a 13-10 victory. The Pride were spirited by Nikki Mennella’s six goals.
Early in the first quarter, Hofstra received two free-position attempts. Shannon Steck attempted both, targeting the far post on her first attempt but failing to score. On the second attempt, Steck switched her strategy by targeting the near post and scored the opening goal of the game.
The Pride struck again 31 seconds later, as Kayleigh Bender increased the lead to 2-0. Bender received a pass to the left of the cage from Natalie DeMeo and fired it past Towson’s goalie into the top right corner.
Towson responded with a goal of their own midway through the opening frame; however, Mennella capitalized on a free position shot of her own to send the game into the quarter break up 3-1.
Hofstra continued to pile on the pressure throughout the second quarter with three straight goals. Bender was the next member of the Pride to take advantage of a free position attempt. Charli Joyce scored in her homecoming game, and Julia Harris scored on a quick release from a Mennella pass.
Following the three-goal push by Hofstra, the Tigers showed some fight with a 3-1 run to close the first half. Luca DeMaio and Katie Roszko scored for Towson, while Mennella responded with one more for the Pride. Hofstra led at half 7-4.
Towson carried their momentum through halftime, and, in spite of being down by five points at one point in the game, the Tigers managed to tie the score at seven apiece.
Mennella refused to see the Pride’s early lead go to waste, however, fighting back with a natural hat trick. Mennella scored her first of the three with a jump shot in front of the crease. Her next goal was only 41 seconds later when she split two defenders en route to the net and fired the ball past the goalie. She wrapped up the natural hat trick on a free position shot roughly a minute into the fourth quarter. Mennella’s efforts put Hofstra up 10-7.
Towson refused to quit, and they brought the game score back within one with back-to-back goals. Despite the Tigers’ efforts, the Pride iced the game with three straight goals down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Goals came courtesy of Kate Lemery on a man-up opportunity, Mennella on a free position shot and DeMeo on a feed from Bender.
Valerie Thompson scored one last goal for Towson before time expired, but it was not enough, and Hofstra was victorious 13-10.
With the win, the Pride sit at the top of the CAA standings with their 3-0 conference record. Hofstra will put their undefeated conference record on the line against Drexel University on Saturday, April 4. Start time is set for noon at James M. Shuart Stadium.
