Tuesday, April 22, 2025
The Hofstra women’s lacrosse team opened 2025 in the heart of winter on Feb. 7 with high hopes for a memorable season that will end in the warmth of spring.
An 11-6 win against Long Island University in the season opener began a stretch of four straight wins to open the new campaign following a nine-win 2024 season in which the Pride reached the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals stage. Much of the pieces were lost however from the 2024 squad including around 70 percent of its offensive production.
“Our motto this year has just been taking it day by day looking and for our team to get better each day,” said 13th-year head coach Shannon Smith. “Every day we're in the trenches together, getting better, growing as a unit, both defensively, offensively and collectively as a team.”
Hofstra still returned some key pieces from last year led by red-shirt sophomore attacker Nikki Mennella, who tallied 44 points on 24 goals and 20 assists through her first seven games. She has earned CAA player of the week honors three times including on March 10 after a five-point performance in a narrow 11-8 loss to Big Ten foe Rutgers and six goals in a 18-6 rout of Wagner.
“She has the willpower to win and is super competitive,” said Smith of Menalla, who also leads the team in draw controls with 38. “She plays with so much fire and passion.”
Mennella spearheads an offense with multiple scoring weapons including freshman attacker Kayleigh Bender, who is second on the team in points with 27-. The Pride have also gotten offensive production early from sophomore Kristen Redding, junior Julia Harris, senior Megan Flannery and graduate student Angelica Sparacio, who previously played at Quinnipiac.
The Hofstra defense also boasts plenty of athleticism anchored by sophomore Christine Dannenfelser, who has garnered CAA Defensive Player of the Week twice this season. The Bayport-Blue Point product registered six draw controls and two ground balls in Hofstra’s near upset of Rutgers.
“She is a sophomore captain and the team really looks up to her,” said Smith of Dannenfelser. “She is fiery and plays with a lot of passion.”
Dannenfelser leads a defensive unit that includes seniors Brynn Hepting and Emily Weigand along with sophomore Natalie Little. Junior Luchianna Cardello, a former Massapequa High School standout, is starting her third season in net and recorded 12 saves in the narrow Rutgers loss.
Hofstra, which opened the CAA schedule with a 15-9 loss to Delaware last Friday, will look to rebound this weekend with road games Friday at William & Mary and Sunday at Elon. The Pride, who are looking to finish in the top four in the league to earn a bid to CAA playoffs, will conclude the regular season with a home game against Long Island rival Stony Brook on April 26 at 7 p.m.
