Hempstead, NY - Graduate student
Katie Whelan had seven points on five goals and two assists but Vanderbilt rallied past the Hofstra women's lacrosse team and earned a 12-9 decision over the Pride on Sunday afternoon at James M. Shuart Stadium.
The five goals tied a season-high for Whelan, who has scored five or more goals six times in her career (three times this season). The goals and points totals were both one off Whelan's career-highs.
Junior
Taylor Mennella finished with four points on a goal and a career-high three assists for the Pride.
Hofstra slips to 6-3 with the loss, while Vanderbilt improved to 5-3.
Whelan scored the first two goals of the game in the opening four minutes and senior
Grace Langella added another goal to give Hofstra a 3-0 advantage at the 9:19 mark of the first quarter. Vanderbilt scored twice in the final few minutes of the first quarter but Hofstra still took a one-goal lead into the second stanza. The lead would back to two, 4-2, as Whelan completed her hat trick early in the second quarter. Once again, Vanderbilt was able to score the final two goals of the quarter to send the teams into the break knotted at four.
The visitors would make it a 4-0 run spanning the two halves to open up a 6-4 lead in the third quarter before junior
Kate Fiola scored off an assist from Mennella to close the gap to one.
Vanderbilt pushed the lead to four on a pair of occasions before Hofstra mounted a comeback. Trailing 10-6, junior
Katie Kelly scored with 2:52 left in the third and then Whelan tallied back-to-back goals early in the fourth quarter to close the gap to 11-9. Hofstra was unable to get over the hump, though, as Vanderbilt held on for the 12-9 victory.
Junior
Kate Fiola contributed a career-high four ground balls, a goal, and a caused turnover in the game, while graduate student
Shannon Boyle had a game-high five draw controls, along with a ground ball and a caused turnover. Senior
Jess Smith made 12 saves and had three ground balls for Hofstra.
Callie Sundin led Vanderbilt with a trio of goals, while Gabby Fornia and Karlie Bucci each had four points on two goals and two assists.
Hofstra returns to action on Saturday, March 26 when it travels to Connecticut for a 1 p.m. contest.
NOTES
- Hofstra is now 3-2 all-time against Vanderbilt. The meeting was the first between the teams since 2007.
- When now has 130 draw controls to move into ninth place all-time in program history. She broke a tie with Kathleen Mikowski (2001-03) for 10th place and passed Jill Maier (128 from 2010-13).
- Smith had double figure saves for the sixth time this season and the 24th time in her career.
- Mennella's assist total was a career-high for the second consecutive game.
