EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette men's soccer team exploded in the second half with four goals to come back from a 1-2 deficit and take down Monmouth, 5-2, to claim their third victory of the season on Tuesday night at Oaks Stadium.

"I'm most proud of the fact that even being down at halftime, we showed some resolve," head coach Dennis Bohn said, "We haven't been down all season and we haven't given up a goal all season. So to give up two and be down at halftime and then come back and get the lead, shows the type of response I was looking for in them."

The win marked the program's first five goal performance since 2003 when they defeated Holy Cross, 5-1, in the opening round of the Patriot League Tournament. The win against Monmouth also makes them tied for their best start since 2010.

"I'm really proud of the way they responded at the start of the second half and the rest of the second half," Bohn added.

The Leopards came out strong in the first couple of minutes, firing off two shots back to back. But it would be Monmouth who would find the back of the net first, in the 21^st minute of action, to give them a 1-0 early lead.  

The Maroon and White struck back a few minutes later in the 35^th minute off a goal by senior James Gibson. The goal was the senior's fifth collegiate goal. But Monmouth would find a way past sophomore goalkeeper Alex Sutton again to end the first half 2-1, Monmouth.

But it would be sophomore Marcos Kitromilides who would get the momentum going for the Leopards in the second half. Just seven minutes into the second half, junior Martin Ssessanga passed the ball across the front of the net to Kitromilidies, who would just get his toe on it enough to push it past the Hawks goalkeeper and tie up the game at 2-2. From there, it was all Lafayette.

Twelve minutes later, it would be senior Ryan Gonclaves who would score off an assist by Max Ippolito for his first goal of the season to bring the score to 3-2. After trading cards, a red for the Hawks and a yellow for the Leopards, Lafayette kept the ball on the Hawks side of the field, firing off four shots before sophomore Sebestian Varela put the ball past the Hawks goalkeeper, off an assist from Gibson to make it 4-2, Leopards.

Varela wasn't done there and three minutes later, found the back of the net again for his second goal of the game off an assist from freshman Yiannis Panayides, putting the Leopards up 5-2.

Varela led the way for the Leopards after coming off the bend, recording five shots (four on goal) and two goals. Gonclaves also had a big night for the Maroon and White with three shots (two on goal) and finding the back of the net once.

Up next for the Leopards is a Friday night trip to Philadelphia to take on Temple. Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.