EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette College men's soccer team improved to 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Oaks, beating Holy Cross in the team's 2021 spring season home opener.

The Leopards were led by junior Sebastian Varela and junior Marcos Kitromilides, each tallied a goal. Freshman Carter Houlihan notched his first collegiate assist and sophomore Benji Grossi added his first assist on the season.

Varela led with a team-high four shots, with three on goal, while Kitromilides and senior Martin Ssessanga each totaled two.

Junior goalkeeper Alex Sutton played all 90 minutes, letting in one goal and recording two saves.

After a back-and-forth couple of minutes to start off the game, Ssessanga fired in the first shot of the game for Lafayette (1-0 North, 2-0 PL), sending the ball wide. Sophomore Hale Lombard was the next Leopard to attempt to find the back of the net but he fired his attempt right into the hands of the Crusaders (0-1 North, 0-1 PL) goalkeeper.

The Crusaders would fire off two more shots and the Leopards would total one more before it was Varela, off an assist from Houlihan, who found the back of the net for the Maroon and White for his first goal of the season to put the Leopards up 1-0.

Less than four minutes later, it was Kitromilides who found the back of the net, off an assist by sophomore Benji Grossi, to make it 2-0 Lafayette heading into the second half of action.

The Crusaders came out in the second half with two quick shots, eventually cutting the Leopards lead in half in the 66^th minute but the Leopards defend held strong and was able to close out the game, earning the 2-1 victory.

The Leopards are set to battle Colgate on Saturday, March 20 at Oaks. First kick is slated for noon.