WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary lacrosse team fell to Hofstra, 11-7, in its CAA home opener at Martin Family Stadium on Friday evening.
W&M (4-5, 0-2) and HU (6-3, 1-1) were even during the final two quarters and scored six goals apiece, but the Tribe was unable to overcome the four-goal halftime deficit.
Hofstra opened the game with four unanswered goals before
Anna Dawson put W&M on the scoreboard off an assist from
Kate Draddy with 3:33 remaining in the second quarter.
After HU took its biggest lead of the contest at 6-1 early in the third quarter, W&M scored three of the next four goals to pull within 7-4 following a free position score by
Sophia Chiodo Ortiz with 3:13 left in the third stanza.
However, the Tribe was unable to get any closer down the stretch as Hofstra responded with a 3-1 run of its own en route to securing the road conference victory.
Dawson, Chiodo Ortiz and
Finley Hoffman led W&M with two goals apiece, while Draddy (1g, 1a) and
Paige Gilbert (2a) both added two points. Gilbert also posted a game-high five draw controls, while Draddy tallied four ground balls and three draw controls. Dawson also came up big with a career-high five ground balls.
Jaylin Locke led the Tribe defensively with three caused turnovers and three ground balls, while
Molly Delaney (3ct, 2gb) and
Anna Armstrong (2ct, 3gb) also posted impressive efforts.
W&M outshot HU, 33-21, but the Pride held a narrow edge in attempts on goal, 18-17.
Hofstra owned a 12-10 advantage in draw controls, but W&M posted a season-high 29 ground balls and totaled 13 caused turnovers.
Nikki Mennella (3g, 2a) led the Pride with five points, while Kayleigh Bender (3g) and Kristen Redding (2g) also earned multi-goal efforts.
Defensively, goalie Luchianna Cardello recorded 10 saves and a .588 save percentage, while Christine Dannenfelser registered three caused turnovers and six ground balls.
W&M will return to action when it continues its conference slate against Monmouth at Martin Family Stadium on Monday at 4 p.m.
