BROOKLYN, N.Y. (March 14, 2026) – Howard University women's lacrosse team fell in its NEC opener at LIU, 15-7, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
 
Second-year Bison midfielder Leah Croom (Falmouth, Mass.) led the Bison attack with a hat trick (three goals).
 
HU took an early 5-0 match lead with five unassisted goals. LIU battled back, closing the gap to a three-goal deficit after one, 5-2.
 
LIU kept its momentum going in the second period, scoring all five goals and taking a 7-5 halftime advantage.
 
Newcomer Rylie Davis (Houston) scored the opening goal after intermission and cut the margin to one, 7-6, but the Sharks responded with four unanswered goals; thus, taking an 11-6 lead into the final frame.
 
In the fourth, freshman midfielder Sophia Lima (Altadena, Calif.) found Croom for her third goal of the day, but LIU pulled away with three scores to win, 15-7.
 
Junior Vanessa Ronsholdt (Stafford, Va.) notched a team-high four draw controls and a pair of ground balls while fellow classmate midfielder Cecilia Vitti (Detroit) forced two turnovers in the loss.
 
Selia Lyons and Lindsey Lucia led the Sharks with six points each in the victory.   
 
On March 21, Howard returns to The District to host Le Moyne College. Match time is slated for noon at Greene Stadium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.