Tigers hand Pride third straight defeat

The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team dropped their third consecutive match 10-7 to the Towson University Tigers on a rainy Saturday afternoon on Saturday, March 25. The team’s overall record dropped to 3-7 and 0-2 in conference play. 

“Really hard fought game,” said Hofstra head coach Shannon Smith. “I thought our players worked hard, fought hard, showed a lot of resiliency there in the second half. We just got to figure out ways to execute and finish on offense.”

Towson was the first to score with midfielder Milana Zizakovic’s goal just over four minutes into the first quarter. Zizakovic doubled the lead with four minutes to go in the frame with a free position goal. With 90 seconds left, Lindsay Clarke made it a 3-0 game when she cut across the fan to send a curveball past Hofstra goalie Luchianna Cardello.

Hofstra took the reins in the second quarter with Megan Flannery’s goal 55 seconds into the period. Less than two minutes later, Blair Pearre found the back of the net to regain the three-point lead for the Tigers. Towson’s second free position opportunity of the day translated into another goal courtesy of Shannon Sullivan.

Hofstra tightened the scoring gap back to three points when Rachel Graff netted a goal, marking the scoreboard 5-2. The Pride doubled down on the scoring with a Taylor Mennella goal with 4:32 left to go in the second half.

With just over two minutes remaining, the Hofstra scoring momentum was halted due to Zizakovic’s finished hat trick that made the score 6-3.

Hofstra came out of the halftime break with Lauren Coletti’s goal at the 46 second mark. With a two-player up advantage, Mennella bounced a goal past Jo Torres, making it a one-goal game for the first time since Towson’s first goal in the first period.

The Tigers pumped the brakes with four minutes left in the period with Gabby Garrett’s goal, making the score 7-5.

The fourth quarter was a stalemate for the first seven minutes until Garrett netted a goal from Cardello’s right side, going back to that three-point lead. Hofstra’s Kerry Walser sped through the left lane of the crease to snake a goal past the Tigers goalie.

Towson’s Ocea Leavy put up a goal to get back to that three-point cushion, but Hofstra’s Grace Pupke notched her first goal of the season at 11:17 to make it a 9-7 game.

With four seconds left, Towson cracked double digits with Lindsey Marshall’s goal.

Both goalies finished with eight saves throughout the contest, and Smith was thoroughly impressed with Cardello’s performance in-cage.

“She’s just super cool, calm and collected; nothing really rattles her,” Smith said. “I’m really proud of her, and she’s been playing exceptionally well.” 

Hofstra’s next appearance on the field will be at home in Shuart Stadium on Tuesday, March 28, against the University of Connecticut Huskies. Draw control is set for 3 p.m. 

“It’s another opportunity to for us to get better,” Smith said. “Getting better offensively, moving the ball better, finishing our shots and gaining more confidence.”

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics