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Hofstra Women’s Lacrosse Falls to Elon Despite Nikki Mennella’s Nine-Point Outburst
Table of Contents
- 1. Hofstra Women’s Lacrosse Falls to Elon Despite Nikki Mennella’s Nine-Point Outburst
- 2. Game Highlights
- 3. Considering Coach Reynolds’ commentary on Mennella’s strategic development,what specific areas of playing strategy are the Hofstra coaches working to improve in Nikki Mennella’s game?
- 4. Archyde Interview: Coach Reynolds on Mennella’s Performance and Hofstra’s Loss to Elon
- 5. Analyzing Mennella’s Impact
- 6. Game Breakdown: Hofstra vs. Elon
- 7. Looking Ahead
- 8. The Cardello Milestone
- 9. Final Thoughts
Published:
By Archyde News Team
ELON, NC – Nikki Mennella delivered a impressive performance on Sunday, March 23, 2025, racking up nine points with six goals and three assists, but it wasn’t enough to propel Hofstra University’s women’s lacrosse team to victory.The Pride (6-4 1-2 in the Coastal athletic Association) ultimately succumbed to Elon University (5-4, 2-0 CAA) in a 14-12 defeat after struggling to overcome a five-goal deficit heading into the final quarter.
Mennella’s six goals equaled her career-high, a feat she last accomplished earlier this month against Wagner College on March 4, 2025. Her performance wasn’t the only milestone of the day, however. Goalie Luchianna Cardello recorded six saves,pushing her to 302 career saves and securing her spot as only the 11th player in program history to surpass 300 saves. Mennella’s nine points also catapulted her up Hofstra’s all-time scoring list, bringing her career total to 129 points and placing her 17th overall.
The game saw momentum swings throughout. Hofstra initially jumped to a 2-0 lead before Elon responded with four unanswered goals to take a 4-2 advantage early in the second quarter. Mennella’s two goals in the closing minutes of the first half narrowed Elon’s lead to 7-5 at halftime.
Kate Lemery brought Hofstra within one goal early in the third quarter, but Elon surged ahead
Considering Coach Reynolds’ commentary on Mennella’s strategic development,what specific areas of playing strategy are the Hofstra coaches working to improve in Nikki Mennella’s game?
Archyde Interview: Coach Reynolds on Mennella’s Performance and Hofstra’s Loss to Elon
An Interview with Hofstra Women’s Lacrosse Assistant Coach,Sarah Reynolds
Published:
Archyde News: Coach Reynolds,thank you for joining us today. Let’s jump right in. Nikki Mennella had an astounding performance today, racking up nine points.Can you talk us through her performance against Elon?
Coach Reynolds: Absolutely. Nikki had a phenomenal game. Six goals and three assists – that’s a career-high tying performance for her. She really stepped up and was a driving force for us on the offensive end. Her ability to create opportunities and finish under pressure was outstanding.
Analyzing Mennella’s Impact
Archyde News: Mennella has proven to be a key player for Hofstra this season with 129 career points. How important is her role to the team’s success, and how do you see her continuing to develop?
Coach Reynolds: Nikki’s leadership both on and off the field is invaluable. She raises the level of play for those around her. As for her development,we’re focusing on her strategic decision-making.
Game Breakdown: Hofstra vs. Elon
Archyde News: Despite Mennella’s heroics, the team fell short against Elon. Can you discuss the key factors that led to the defeat specifically concerning the Hofstra vs Elon game?
Coach Reynolds: Elon played a strong game.There were critical momentum swings. We had a solid start, but we struggled to contain Elon’s response. They capitalized on their opportunities, and we had a hard time keeping pace in the second half, specifically in overcoming their five-goal lead.
Looking Ahead
Archyde News: What are the key takeaways from this game, and what adjustments will the team be making moving forward in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play?
Coach Reynolds: We’re focusing on defensive adjustments, and improving our response to those momentum swings. We have to be more disciplined in transition and smarter with our shot selection. The CAA is always competitive,and we intend to bounce back better than before. Specifically we need to improve team communication and maintain our composure under pressure.
The Cardello Milestone
Archyde News: Goalie Luchianna Cardello recorded six saves today, reaching 302 career saves. Congratulations to her! How notable is Luchianna’s milestone to the team?
Coach Reynolds: Luchianna’s achievement is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She is an invaluable support to the success of our team and is a key component in our defensive strategies. This milestone is a proud moment for our program and a demonstration of the level of commitment we encourage. It gives a push to the team’s energy.
Final Thoughts
Archyde News: What would you say to the fans to give them a sense of hope going into the rest of the season?
Coach Reynolds: We want to thank our fans for their continued support. We know that setbacks are part of the game, but we’ll continue working hard every day. The team is resilient, and we are optimistic about our the season ahead.
Archyde News: Thanks for your time, coach Reynolds. We appreciate you sharing your insights.
