By Alana Pelosi, Sports Editor
For the third year in a row, the women’s lacrosse team fell to Notre Dame in a battle that was back and forth the entire game. The Pride suffered its first blow of the season in the 12-13 defeat.
The Fighting Irish’s victory was a near replica of the Pride’s 13-14 stormy-weather loss two years ago and last year’s 15-17 loss as the annual matchup between the two teams starts to look more like a high-scoring rivalry. As in years past, the Pride’s biggest challenge was containing the Irish’s standout players, Gina Scioscia and Shaylyn Blaney. Going into Tuesday night’s game, “They were the only two we talked about,” said Head Coach Abby Morgan.
Unfortunately, the hours of preparation for the dynamic pair did not seem to be enough as the Pride allowed three goals by Scioscia and a personal-best six by Blaney. Morgan stated that part of the team’s on-going struggle is its failure to execute a scouting report. “[We] tell them ‘Don’t let a player on the opposing team score the same way twice and we let Shaylyn score that way six times.”
Despite the Irish’s ability to score big, Hofstra’s goalies were coming up with saves. Sophomore Jackie Pandolf and senior Mary Cuddihy had a combined 10 saves to Notre Dame’s 7. Ultimately, it was the Pride’s failure to shoot and score in the second half that cost them. In the first half, the Pride out-shot Notre Dame 19-14; scoring within the first thirty seconds and finishing out the half with two goals in the final minute.
In the second half, the Pride got off to another early start with a goal in the first minute from senior Courtney O’Connor. For much of the game, the lead went back and forth. After Notre Dame scored three consecutive goals the Pride managed to tie things up twice, but failed to regain the lead.
With a little over 10 minutes remaining in the game, Notre Dame scored their go-ahead goal and with only seven shots in the second half, the Pride could not muster up enough offensive gusto to score another goal.
The Pride look to regain momentum at Shuart Stadium when it hosts Albany on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman middie Jill Maier is one of many impact rookies for the Pride. (Sean M. Gates/ The Chronicle)
