Elon, NC - Nikki Mennella had another tremendous game with nine points on six goals and three assists, but the Pride could not overcome a five-goal deficit entering the fourth quarter as the Hofstra women's lacrosse team dropped a 14-12 decision at Elon on Sunday afternoon. Mennella's six goals tied her career-high, most recently achieved at Wagner on March 4, 2025. 

Luchianna Cardello had six saves in the game to become only the 11th player in program history with at least 300 saves. She now has 302 to rank 11th. Mennella skyrocketed up the Pride all-time points chart as her nine points gave her 129 in her career to move into 17th place all-time. 

Hofstra fell to 6-4 overall and 1-2 in CAA play with the loss. Elon improved to 5-4 and 2-0 in league action. 

After Hofstra scored the game's first two goals, Elon responded with four of its own to lead 4-2 just over in a minute into the second quarter. Two goals from Mennella in the final five minutes of the second quarter would allow the Pride to trail by just two at the break, 7-5. 

Kate Lemery brought Hofstra to within one early in the third quarter before Elon opened up an 11-6 lead with a 4-0 scoring run. 

Down five entering the final stanza, Hofstra gave it everything they had as a 3-1 run early in the quarter made it 12-9 following a goal from Julia Harris with 10:08 left in the contest. 

The Phoenix pushed the lead back to four at the 6:29 mark before back-to-back goals from Mennella and an unassisted tally from Kayleigh Bender made it a one-goal game with 2:13 left. 

That would be as close as the Pride would get as Elon won the ensuing draw control and was able to run out the clock while adding one more goal in the contest. 

Bender and Harris each added three points on two goals and an assist in the game for the Pride, which also got three draw controls, two ground balls, and a caused turnover from Christine Dannenfelser. Mennella led the Pride with five draw controls, while Kate Lemery posted a team-best three ground balls and added a goal. 

Danielle Swietoniowski led the Phoenix with five points on three goals and two assists, while Sammy Fisher and Ana Lee Vandiver both had four goals and an assist for Elon.

Hofstra returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Connecticut in its final non-conference game of the season. Open draw control is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game is part of a doubleheader with the Pride men's lacrosse team, which hosts Delaware at 12 p.m. For ticket information visit HofstraTickets.com. 

NOTES
- Hofstra is now 5-4 all-time against Elon. The Pride had won four straight in the series entering today. 
- The hat trick was Mennella's seven this season and 17th of her career. 
- Today marked the third time that Mennella has scored six goals in a game. 
- Today was the third time this season that Mennella has tallied nine or more points in a game. 
- Bender now has multiple goals in seven games this season.