Women's Lacrosse Defeated By Hofstra's Rally, 17-14; Frink Equals Career-High Point Total

Hempstead, N.Y. - Corrine Gandolfi had five goals and one assist, as Hofstra rallied in the second half for a 17-14 victory over UAlbany on Monday, March 1 at James M. Shuart Stadium. The Great Danes, who had their first two games postponed due to weather, were playing for the first time this season.
UAlbany (0-1) trailed by as much as five in the first half and were still behind 10-7 after the Pride's Stephanie Rice scored from right of the crease on a pass from behind. The Great Danes then rattled off seven of the game's next eight goals to build a 14-11 advantage.
Kayla Best, a senior midfielder, scored back-to-back to give her team its first lead of the contest. She converted a seven-yard shot while working through traffic to draw her team even, and then put the Great Danes ahead by moving in from the left and shooting low past the goalkeeper.
After Hofstra's Liz Falco, who had three goals and one assist, tied the contest at 11 apiece, Olivia Jarem netted a free-position opportunity that bounced over the goaltender's stick. Taylor Frink, who scored three times and handed out two assists, and Nikki Branchini, ended the run with a pair of unassisted goals.
The Pride, who were coming off a one-goal loss to No. 8 Notre Dame and are receiving votes in the IWLCA national poll, erupted for six unanswered to regain control. K'Leigh Vanaman connected on a bounce shot to tie the game for the third time in the half. Rice, who had four goals, then found the right corner off a pass from Jackie Ardolino with 10:54 remaining for a 15-14 lead. Gandolfi scored twice for insurance, including a rebound conversion after goalie Ashley Ross made the initial save.
In the first half, Hofstra (2-1) reversed an early 2-1 deficit by scoring six consecutive times. Courtney O'Connor put her team in front when she gathered in a loose ball from in front of the cage. The Great Danes rallied with three consecutive goals, including a transition play in which Frink finished off some quick passing into the attack area. The Pride took a 9-7 lead to the intermission.
Branchini equaled a career-high with three goals for the Great Danes, who posted their first winning campaign since 2000 last year. Best scored three times and extended her goal-scoring streak to 47 consecutive games.

Paw Prints: Taylor Frink matched a career-high with five points (3 goals, 2 assists) ... Kayla Best's 47-game scoring streak is the second longest in the nation ... Best moved into fourth place on the all-time goals list with 122 ... she climbed past Hall of Famer Dawn DiMicco, who had 121 from 1997-2001 ... goalkeeper Ashley Ross was making her first start in lacrosse ... Ross was a three-time All-America East Conference netminder in field hockey.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information