Hempstead, NY - Seniors Erin Demek (2G, 1A) and Jackie Gatti (1G, 2A) each tallied team-highs of three points, while graduate student Shannon Boyle posted a career-best nine draw controls, but the Hofstra women's lacrosse team dropped a 17-10 decision to #12 James Madison on Saturday afternoon at James M. Shuart Stadium.

The three points marked a new career-high for Gatti, who previously had two on a pair of occasions most recently at #22 Connecticut on March 26. 

Hofstra slipped to 6-5 overall and 0-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play with the loss. James Madison improved to 8-4 and 2-0 in the league. 

A 4-0 James Madison scoring run in the first quarter allowed the Dukes to overcome an early 1-0 Pride lead as Demek opened the scoring in the contest at the 13:22 mark. Trailing 4-1, Hofstra would score three of the next four goals in the contest, with a tally from junior Lauren Coletti making it a 5-4 game with 12:19 left in the second stanza. The Pride used another 3-1 scoring run later in the second quarter, including Coletti's second of the game, to close to within 8-7 with 3:38 left before halftime following a free-position goal from graduate student Arianna Esposito. The Dukes took a two-goal advantage into the break as they found the back of the net with under a minute to play. 

Gatti kept the pressure on for Hofstra as she scored just over two minutes into the third quarter to make it a 9-8 game in favor of the visitors. That would be as close as the Pride would get, though, as James Madison scored the game's next six goals to take a commanding 15-8 lead with 2:33 left in the third quarter. 

The fourth quarter saw Hofstra get a pair of goals from graduate student Katie Whelan and Demek to close to within five, 15-10, with 9:15 left but the Dukes finished the scoring with two goals in the final three-plus minutes. 

Whelan had a pair of goals for Hofstra, while senior Grace Langella and junior Taylor Mennella had a goal and an assist. Coletti had her second straight game with two goals for the Pride. Senior Jess Smith had eight saves and three ground balls. 

Isabella Peterson had 10 points on eight goals and two assists for James Madison, while Kacey Knobloch tallied five points on four goals and an assist. Molly Dougherty made 11 saves for the Dukes, while Rachel Matey had 11 draw controls. 

Hofstra has a short turnaround until its next game as the Pride will travel to Delaware on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. contest. The game will air on FloLive. 

NOTES
- Boyle's previous career-high was eight draw controls, most recently achieved at #22 Connecticut on March 26, 2022. It was the most for a Pride player since Alyssa Parrella had 10 against Towson on May 1, 2021. 
- With her two goals, Whelan moved into ninth place all-time at Hofstra with 119 goals. She passed Brittain Altomare, who had 118 from 2012-15. 
- James Madison leads the all-time series, 21-7. 

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