Los Angeles, CA - Nikki Mennella led the Pride with a pair of goals, but the Hofstra women's lacrosse team dropped a 15-6 decision to #15 Southern California on Saturday afternoon at Dignity Health Sports Park.

The loss evens the Pride's record at 1-1 this season, while USC improved to 3-0. 

Nikki Mennella scored Hofstra's first goal of the game, just over four minutes into the contest, to knot the score at one. After USC scored three straight goals to take a 4-1 lead, the Pride would tally two of the next three goals to close to within two, 5-3, with 13:12 left in the second quarter. Taylor Mennella had Hofstra's second goal of the game and Nikki Mennella accounted for the third. 

The home squad would then score seven consecutive goals to open up a 12-3 lead at the beginning of the third quarter. 

The Pride ended the run as Lauren Lam scored her first career goal at the 12:14 mark of the third quarter. Hofstra was unable to seriously challenge USC the rest of the way but did score both of the game's two goals during the fourth quarter with Megan Flannery and Julia Harris finding the back of the net. It was Harris's first career goal. 

Melissa Sconone finished with a pair of assists for the Pride, which also got four ground balls from Flannery. Kerry Walser and Natalie DeMeo each tallied two draw controls in the game. Luchianna Cardello posted nine saves for the Pride. 

Shelby Tilton led USC with four goals, while Ella Heaney had four points (2 G, 2 A) and Isabelle Vitale added four assists. 

Hofstra returns to action next Saturday, February 24, when it hosts Fairfield at 12 p.m. For ticket information visit HofstraTickets.com. That contest will air on FloLive. 

NOTES
- Today was the fourth all-time meeting between the schools. The Trojans have won all four meetings. 
- Nikki Mennella has scored at least two goals in all eight games she has played in during her career. 
- Flannery's four ground balls marked a new career-high. She previously had three against Drexel on April 22, 2023. 
- The two draw controls by DeMeo were the first of her career.