EASTON, Pa. - Senior forward Alex Stanford had three goals in both her sophomore and junior seasons on the pitch for Lafayette. She wasted little time in matching those totals in her senior year by recording a hat trick in the Leopards 5-1 win over Delaware State.

Playing less than 48 hours after an exciting win over Villanova, Lafayette carried that momentum over into Sunday. Katie Brannigan connected with Sophia Hudson just outside of the box and the freshman threaded the ball through the Hornets defense which Stanford finished into the right side of the goal with less than one minute elapsed.

The second tally of the afternoon was even sweeter to Stanford, however, as it was the culmination of four years of practice between Stanford and classmate Annika Sheehan.  Hudson sent a ball to a streaking Sheehan down the right sideline who sent a perfect cross to Stanford to finish for a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute.

"We knew we were going to have chances today, it was just a matter of taking advantage of them," Stanford said. "Annika and I are both seniors this year and it is something we have been working on all four years. We do it in practice every day so to do it in a game it was cool to see it put to use."

Given the quick turnaround from the opener, the game wasn't always as crisp as head coach Mick Statham would have liked. Nevertheless he acknowledged that in netting five goals the Leopards were obviously doing some things very well. The 13th-year head coach wasn't surprised by the offensive outburst by the senior forward from Winchester, Va. 

"I have said to her numerous time in the few years she has been here that, in my opinion, she is as good as anyone inside the 18-yard box," Statham said. "She works hard at it and she has a knack that you can't teach."

Aside from Stanford's efforts, there were many accolades to go around. Junior defender Caitlin Balmer recorded her first career goal in the 56th minute when she settled a loose ball inside the box following a corner kick and put it past the scrambling Delaware State goalkeeper.  Hudson's two assists were her first on the collegiate level and sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Pohl grabbed a career-best seven saves.

Balmer's goal pushed the Lafayette lead to 3-0 and set off a wild stretch of three goals in less than two minutes. Stanford completed the trifecta with a goal 1:12 later to stretch the Leopards advantage but the Hornets managed the first goal allowed by the Lafayette defense 36 seconds later by Jade Jamison.

"It was a game that was a little disjointed at times," Statham said. "But, of course, when you score five goals you've done something right. There were times that I thought we looked good and circulated the ball well and there were times that were frustrating. At the end of the day the scoreboard reflects what we wanted to do so I've got to be happy with that."

Indeed, with few exceptions, the Leopards were able to dominate possession and keep the attack primarily in the offensive end. 

"Our defenders and midfielders had total control of the game," Stanford said. "Our goal going into the game was to get inside the 18 in the first 30 seconds. Getting a goal in the first minute is just as good, if not better. It really did set the tone."

Lafayette will look to start a season 3-0 for the first time since 2015 when they host Saint Peters at noon on Sunday, August 26 at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium.