Hempstead, NY - Hofstra redshirt sophomore Nikki Mennella was named the CAA Attacker of the Year and freshman Kayleigh Bender was named the CAA Rookie of the Year as the Pride captured two of the major awards from the conference, it was announced today by the league office. 

Mennella also earned a spot on the All-CAA First Team and was joined on that team by sophomore Christine Dannenfelser. Bender was also named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. 

Dannenfelser and Mennella were both part of the CAA All-Rookie Team in 2024. These are the first postseason honors of Bender's career. 

Mennella is Hofstra's first player of the year award winner (attacker of the year award began in 2023) since Alyssa Parrella in 2019. 

Bender is the Pride's first rookie of the year award winner since Parrella in 2017. 

This marks the first time Hofstra has captured two of the major awards from the CAA in the same season since Brittain Altomare was the player of the year and Shannon Smith was the coach of the year in 2015. 

Mennella had a spectacular season as she posted 99 points on 62 goals and 37 assists, while also adding 67 draw controls, eight ground balls, and six caused turnovers. Her points per game average of 6.60 is a new CAA record and incredibly the PPG average is the 11th-best in the history of NCAA Division I lacrosse. All three of her season scoring totals are the second-most in a single season in program history. Mennella was a five-time CAA Offensive Player of the Week award recipient this season and twice earned national honors - USA Lacrosse Magazine on February 25 and IWLCA on April 22. 

A two-time CAA Rookie of the Week this season, Bender captured the top rookie honors after posting 41 points on 31 goals and 10 assists this season. Bender played in 15 games and notched six hat tricks along the way. Bender ranked second on the team in goals and points and had multiple goals nine times in 2025. 

Dannenfelser had a tremendous season for the Pride, totaling 58 draw controls, 42 ground balls, and 24 caused turnovers. She led Hofstra in both ground balls and caused turnovers and ranked second in draw controls. In the CAA rankings she was third in ground balls, seventh in caused turnovers, and 10th in draw controls. Dannenfelser twice earned CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors this season. 

Hofstra finished the 2025 campaign with a 9-7 overall record and a 4-4 CAA mark.