Hofstra remains at a loss without Mennella

Not even a career-high five goals for Katie Kelly or Rachel Graff’s third hat trick of the season could power the Hofstra women’s lacrosse team past the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies on Tuesday, March 28. 

With a final score of 14-13 at James M. Shuart Stadium, a goal from UConn’s Grace Coon three-and-a-half minutes into overtime period served as the deciding tally, handing the Pride its fourth consecutive loss. 

Hofstra kept pace with UConn and forced the visiting Huskies to defend in high-pressure situations throughout the afternoon. However, the Pride failed to execute in critical moments late in the game.

Each time it had UConn within its grasp, the Pride let the game slip through its fingers. 

“I think it's just about capitalizing on our opportunities when we're there,” said Hofstra head coach Shannon Smith. “We’ve got to capitalize on the offensive side of the field.”

The biggest missed opportunity of the game came late in the fourth. After Graff potted her third goal of the afternoon with just under seven minutes to play, giving the Pride the lead for the first time since the opening quarter, UConn’s Susan Lafountain answered back a minute later to tie the score at 13 with her team-leading fourth goal of the game. 

Freshman goalie Luchianna Cardello made her fifth straight start in goal for Hofstra, stopping 10 of the 24 shots she faced. Cardello has kept Hofstra in each game she’s started thus far, but the Pride seems to be at a loss since losing fellow freshman, and leading goal scorer Nikki Mennella. 

Menella hasn’t appeared in a game since March 4 and has missed the Pride’s last five games with a leg injury. With each loss, the void in Hofstra’s lineup left by Menella looms larger.

“Nikki is our best player,” Smith said. “She has a lot of goals. She's really great at drawing attention and also dishing the ball off, so other people need to learn how to step up in those opportunities and grow.”

Hofstra will continue its season without Mennella as they enter what Smith labeled the most important part of the year for the team. That stretch begins on Saturday, April 1, as the Pride will face Monmouth University at 2 p.m. in West Long Branch, NJ, where the key to snapping this recent losing streak will revolve around one objective. 

“We just got to shoot the ball better,” Smith said. “It really comes down to that. We got to take advantage of our opportunities.”

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics