Hempstead, NY - Nikki Mennella added another spectacular day to a career filled with them as she posted a career-high nine points on three goals and a career-high six assists to lead the Hofstra women's lacrosse team to an 18-5 win over Marist on Sunday afternoon at James M. Shuart Stadium. The win improved the Pride's record to 3-0 this season, its best start to a season since the 2013 squad began the year 4-0. 

Mennella's nine points are the most for a Pride player since Alyssa Parrella had 10 points (10 goals) against Villanova on March 13, 2021. Her six assists are one off the program's CAA era (since 2002) record of seven assists held by Melissa Sconone against Elon on March 24, 2024. 

The game was never in doubt as Hofstra scored the first 10 goals of the contest and held the double-digit lead midway through the second quarter. Megan Flannery got the Pride on the board first and Angelina Sparacio tallied a hat trick in the Pride's first seven goals of the game. The 10th goal of the run came off the stick of Julia Harris off an assist from Kristen Redding. 

After taking a 12-2 lead into the halftime break, Hofstra outscored Marist, 3-1, in the third quarter to push the advantage to 15-3. The final quarter saw Hofstra find the back of the net three more times to account for the final amount. 

Christine Dannenfelser posted five ground balls, one draw control, and two caused turnovers in the game. Emily Weigand added a trio of ground balls for the Pride, which also got five points from Kayleigh Bender (3 G, 2 A) and four points from Sparacio (3 G, 1 A). 

Luchianna Cardello made four saves in net for her third win of the season. 

Makenna Graham had two points (1 G, 1 A) for Marist, which also got five ground balls and three caused turnovers from Shelby Hahn. Megan Morris made three saves for the Red Foxes. 

Hofstra is back on the road for its next contest as the Pride travels to Fairfield on Saturday, February 22 for a 12 p.m. game. 

NOTES
- Hofstra leads the all-time series against Marist, 6-1. The teams have met in each of the last four seasons with the Pride winning two straight. 
- Mennella previously had a career-high eight points at #25 Vanderbilt on February 18, 2023, and had a career-best three assists on a pair of occasions, last at Manhattan on Friday. 
- The hat trick was the second of the year for Mennella and 12th of her career, Flannery's first this season and second of her career, Bender's third in three games this season, and Sparacio's first with Hofstra and sixth of her career.