FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Freshman Nick Rossi netted four goals to help lead the Lafayette College men's lacrosse team to a wire-to-wire victory Tuesday afternoon over top Sacred Heart, 16-8.
 
The Leopards came out firing on all cylinders and held the Pioneers scoreless for the first quarter. It marked the first time Lafayette has held an opponent scoreless for a full quarter since March 12, 2019. The Maroon and White also shut out the home team in the fourth quarter.
 
Rossi led the way, tallying a career-best four goals and an assist while grabbing three ground balls to help the Leopards snap a six-game skid
 
Sophomores Peter Lehman and Kalman Kraham each netted three goals while Lehman added two assists and Kraham had one helper.
 
Rossi opened the scoring at the 13:18 mark of the first period before the Leopards netted three goals in less than two minutes from junior Macklin Fitzpatrick, Lehman and sophomore John Mathes.
 
Fitzpatrick and Mathes each had two tallies on the afternoon while Mathes added an assist.
 
The Leopards extended their lead to 8-0 in the early going of the second quarter before Sacred Heart rattled off five unanswered goals to make it an 8-5 game.
 
Kraham would put an end to that run with a behind-the-back goal at the 2:29 mark and sophomore Charlie Cunniffe would also score 26 seconds later to give Lafayette the momentum back as the teams headed to the locker room.
 
Both sides would trade blows in the third quarter before the Lafayette defense tidied up and shut down the Pioneers in the fourth.
 
The Leopards were 23-of-24 on clear attempts and forced Sacred Heart into 18 turnovers. Freshman Gabe Cummins was in net all afternoon making five saves.
 
For the latest on the Lafayette College men's lacrosse program, follow the Leopards on Twitter @LafayetteMLAX and Instagram @lafayettemlax.