Hempstead, NY - Freshman Nikki Mennella had another tremendous outing with seven points on a career-best six goals and one assist, but Marist rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Hofstra women's lacrosse team, 14-12, on Wednesday afternoon at James M. Shuart Stadium. 

Hofstra fell to 2-3 with the loss, while Marist improved to 2-2. 

Marist led 3-1 early on before Hofstra scored three consecutive goals to earn a 4-3 advantage with just 18 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The sister duo of Nikki and senior Taylor Mennella teamed up on the final goal of the run as Nikki scored off an assist from Taylor. 

The two teams combined for eight goals in the second quarter with the Red Foxes regaining the lead with a 3-0 run to start the stanza. The Pride had an answer, though, and scored four straight goals to lead 8-6 with 3:06 remaining before intermission. Nikki Mennella had a pair of goals during the run with graduate student Rachel Graff and junior Kerry Walser adding the others. 

Hofstra was able to take a 10-9 lead into the final quarter as Nikki Mennella and senior Lauren Coletti scored for the Pride in the final two minutes of the quarter. 

It was a back-and-forth fourth quarter as Marist opened it up with a pair of goals and Hofstra answered with goals from Taylor Mennella and Coletti to hold a 12-11 lead with 6:35 showing on the clock. Marist would then score three times, all from Delaney Hayes, in the final five minutes of regulation to earn the two-goal win. 

Coletti tied her season-high with two goals, while Taylor Mennella finished with a goal and a career-high tying three assists. Senior Kate Fiola led Hofstra with four ground balls, while Nikki Mennella had a season-best four draw controls and sophomore Megan Flannery added three. 

Kerri Gutenberger had six points on four goals and two assists for Marist, which also got five points (4G, 1A) from Hayes and Kelly Trotta. 

Hofstra is back in action on Saturday when it hosts #16 Army West Point at 3 p.m. For ticket information call (516) HOF-TIXX. The game will also air on FloLive. 

NOTES
- Hofstra is now 4-1 all-time against Marist. 
- Senior Samantha Tarpey got her first-ever start in net for Hofstra, while freshman Luchianna Cardello played nearly 40 minutes in net for the Pride and had four saves. 
- Hofstra outshot Marist, 35-27, and had 14 ground balls to 12 for the Red Foxes.