Storrs, CT - Sophomore Kerry Walser had a career-high four goals, junior Lauren Coletti tallied the first two goals of her career, and senior Jess Smith made a season-best 14 saves but it wasn't enough as the Hofstra women's lacrosse team dropped a 15-11 decision to #22 Connecticut on Saturday afternoon at Joseph J. Morrone Field.

Hofstra falls to 6-4 with the loss, while Connecticut improves to 8-1. 

The Pride had to overcome a 4-1 deficit in the game as senior Erin Demek tallied Hofstra's lone goal in the first 12 minutes of the game. Coletti and Walser would notch back-to-back goals to bring the Pride within one at the end of the first quarter. The lead was once again three for the Huskies midway through the second quarter before a 3-0 scoring run for the Pride evened the score for the first time since the game was scoreless. Walser tallied her second of the game to get the spurt going and was aided by graduate student Katie Whelan and senior Jackie Gatti. The teams went into the halftime break knotted at seven as Coletti tallied a clutch goal with just seven ticks left in the second quarter. 

Connecticut used a big third quarter to take control in the game as the Huskies outscored the Pride, 4-1, in the third stanza to lead 11-8 after 45 minutes of play. Graduate student Arianna Esposito tallied the Pride's lone goal in the quarter to keep Hofstra within striking distance. 

Walser scored two more goals in the fourth quarter to punctuate her career day, but Connecticut pushed the lead to as many as five before settling for the 15-11 win. 

Whelan, with two goals and three assists, has had at least five points in a game for the fourth time in the Pride's last five games. Smith's 14 saves bested her previous season-high of 13 at Marist on March 11. Junior Courtney Carollo posted a career-best six draw controls for Hofstra. 

Kate Shaffer had six points on five goals and one assist for Connecticut, while Grace Coon added four goals. Landyn White made 12 saves for the Huskies. 

Hofstra will open Colonial Athletic Association play next Saturday, April 2, when it hosts nationally-ranked James Madison at 12 p.m. Tickets are available at HofstraTickets.com. The game will also air on FloLive. 

NOTES
- Today marked the third-ever game between Hofstra and Connecticut with the Pride now holding a narrow 2-1 lead in the series. 
- It was Walser's first career hat trick and her most goals since scoring two at Marist on March 11 of this season. 
- Boyle's eight draw controls tied her career-high, last achieved against UAlbany on March 5 of this year. 
- It was Smith's seventh game this season with at least 10 saves and the 25th time in her career.