FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A fast start for Hofstra proved to be the difference on Saturday afternoon on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium as Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse was on the short side of 17-11 final to the visiting Pride.
Grace Slater matched her career high with six points to pace the Stags on the attack.
With the home setback, Fairfield slips to 1-3 on the season. Unbeaten Hofstra moves to 4-0 on the campaign. The Pride had not surrendered more than six goals in any of their first three contests, including back-to-back 18-5 victories over MAAC foes Marist and Manhattan.
Slater's six points consisted of four goals and two assists. Despite not playing last Wednesday at UConn, the senior leads the Stags this season with 10 goals and 15 total points. Her previous six-point game was also comprised of four goals and two helpers, coming in last season's win over Drexel.
Amanda Kozak added a hat trick for the Stags, and
Kelly Haggerty also posted a three-point afternoon with a goal and two assists. Rounding out the Fairfield scoring were
Haley Burns,
Brooke Marotti and
Tessa Caputo with one goal apiece. Caputo's goal was the first of her collegiate career.
In addition to her sixth goal of the spring, Burns was a force in the midfield with two ground balls, two caused turnovers and two draw controls.
Brynn Donnelly had 11 draw controls working from the dot – one shy of her career-high and the single-game program record that she currently shares with her former teammate Nicollette LaVista '23.
On the defensive end,
Grace Kiernan recorded a pair of caused turnovers, and
Delaney Brimhall picked up two ground balls.
Keira Furey started in the cage and posted four saves with three ground balls.
Ally Zamparelli took over in goal for the fourth quarter and stopped one of the two shots on target that she faced.
Hofstra was led by standout attacker Nikki Mennella, who posted five goals, three assists and 11 draw controls. Julia Harris also scored five goals for the visitors, and Luchianna Cardello made five saves in a 60-minute effort in the cage for the Pride.
The Stags continue a challenging non-league slate on Wednesday, Feb. 26 with a 1 p.m. visit from Vermont. The Catamounts are 2-1 on the campaign after a 13-7 loss this afternoon at Marist.
Admission is free for all fans to all Fairfield Women's Lacrosse regular season home games this season.
