Brookville, NY - Junior
Taylor Mennella had her second career hat trick and the Pride defense stood tall the entire game as the Hofstra women's lacrosse team opened the 2022 campaign with an 8-5 victory over Long Island on Saturday afternoon at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mennella's only other hat trick came almost exactly two years ago as she had four goals against Bucknell on February 15, 2020.
The win improves the Pride's record to 1-0, while Long Island drops its season opener. It marks Hofstra's second straight season-opening win and the fourth time in the last six years the Pride has won its season opener.
Senior
Jess Smith anchored the Hofstra defense with six saves in net for the Pride.
It was a slow start offensively for Hofstra as the Sharks scored the game's only goal in the first quarter to lead 1-0 after 15 minutes.
Mennella would then get her solid day started as she tied the score up at one with 8:21 left before halftime off an assist from graduate student
Katie Whelan. That goal would start a 4-0 run for the Pride in the second quarter as Hofstra also got goals from senior
Jackie Gatti, junior
Katie Kelly, and another one from Mennella to lead 4-1 at the break.
The run would be 6-0 in total spanning the second and third quarters as the Pride added two more goals early in the third quarter to make it a 6-1 advantage. Kelly notched her second of the game and senior
Erin Demek found the back of the net to give the Pride the commanding five-goal lead.
Hofstra would get goals from sophomore
Kerry Walser and Mennella in the fourth quarter to give them an 8-3 lead en route to the strong defensive effort in the opener.
Sophomore
Trinity Reed posted three ground balls in the contest for Hofstra.
Jen Gaffney had two goals for Long Island.
Hofstra is back in action next Saturday when it travels to Army West Point for a 12 p.m. contest.
NOTES
- Today marked the first-ever meeting in women's lacrosse between Hofstra and Long Island.
- Kelly's two goals were the first of her career.
- The five goals allowed were the fewest allowed by Hofstra since an 18-5 win over Bucknell on February 15, 2020.
