Elon, N.C. – The Elon University women's lacrosse team built a sizable lead Sunday and then held off a late charge from Hofstra for a 14-12 win. With the victory, Elon improved to 5-4 overall and 2-0 in CAA play. Hofstra falls to 6-4 overall and 1-2 in the league.
 
Elon has now won six consecutive conference games dating back to last year and is one of only three unbeaten CAA teams this year, along with Drexel and Stony Brook.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Hofstra got off to the quick start, scoring twice in the first three minutes for a 2-0 lead. But Elon scored four straight over the remainder of the first and early second period, never trailing again.
• The Phoenix led 3-2 after one as Sammy Fisher sandwiched a pair of goals around one from Danielle Swietoniowski.
• Swietoniowski assisted on a goal from Ana Lee Vandiver just 1:09 into the second for a 4-2 advantage.
• Hofstra stopped the bleeding on Nikki Mennella's second goal of the game but Elon answered with two more for a 6-3 advantage. Addie Gilner scored on a woman up goal with a pass from Mia Zebley and Vandiver scored her second of the day on a pass from Cierra Hopson.
• Mennella scored her third with 4:53 to play in the first half but Lila Ceribelli scored 34 seconds later to make it 7-4. Hofstra, though, rallied as Mennella scored with 16 seconds remaining in the half. The Pride added a goal to start the third that made it 7-6.
• Elon, though, put together a four-goal run that ultimately decided the game. Swietoniowski scored on the front end and back end of the run, adding an assist to Vandiver on the second goal. Vandiver assisted on the initial goal and Fisher scored unassisted for the third goal. Zebley recorded her second assist of the day on the last score of the run. When the dust cleared, Elon scored four times in 2:41 and led 11-6 after three periods.
• Hofstra opened the fourth with a goal but Addie Gilner led the response to make it 12-7. Hofstra scored twice just 40 seconds apart but Vandiver got her fourth of the day on a pass from Fisher and Elon led 13-9 with 6:29 to play.
• Hofstra wasn't done and the Pride scored three straight, the last one leaving 2:13 remaining and made it 13-12.
• Draw control specialist MJ Santa Barbara won the ensuing draw and Elon was able to run most of the shot clock before Fisher was fouled. She scored a free position goal with 40 seconds left to ice it 14-12.

 
NOTES AND STATS

• Three Elon players scored hat tricks led by Sammy Fisher and Ana Lee Vandiver. The duo each had four goals and an assist. Freshman Danielle Swietoniowski had a career-game with three goals and two assists for her first career hat trick.
• Eliza Ritter had a team-best three caused turnovers and added a ground ball and a draw control.
• MJ Santa Barbara had 11 draw controls and now has 37 draw controls in just three games played this year. She has had at least 11 in each of those contests.
• Elon was 4-of-7 on free position shots as Lila Ceribelli, Addie Gilner, Fisher and Swietoniowski all scored once.
• Caitlin Walsh tied her season-high with nine saves.
• Elon outshot Hofstra 26-25 but the Pride had a 21-20 edge on shots on goal.
• Elon had just 10 turnovers, four fewer than Hofstra.
• Hofstra was 11-of-13 on clears and Elon was just 11-of-15. The Pride led in ground balls 15-8.
• Elon led 16-12 in draw controls.
• Elon snapped a four-game losing streak against Hofstra and closes the all-time series to 5-4 in favor of the Pride.
• Elon is 2-0 in CAA play for the first time since 2021. Dating back to last year, Elon has won six straight CAA games, the program's longest conference winning streak in its existence.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon will host Campbell Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for Senior Day. Campbell is 3-7 overall and 1-2 in CAA play.