WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior captain Charlie Cunniffe led Lafayette to its fourth win of the season with four goals and two assists in the team's 17-8 victory over Holy Cross.

Junior midfielder Riley Sullivan got Lafayette on the board at the 13:27 mark, but Holy Cross' Matt Major tied the game (1-1) just over a minute later. Cunniffe (twice), senior captains John Mathes, Peter Lehman and junior attacker Lucas Hucal all found the back of the net in the first period, giving the Leopards a 7-2 lead after 15 minutes in Worcester.

After 42 second-quarter seconds, Cunniffe got his hat trick off a great feed by sophomore Aidan Kopen. The Newtown Square, Pa. native fired home again four seconds later at the 14:14 mark, off an assist from junior Evan Prince. The next few minutes were scoreless until Bo Webster found the Crusaders' third goal of the contest with 6:09 remaining in the first half. Kopen and senior attacker Kalman Kraham both scored late goals, providing the Leopards an 11-3 lead at the intermission.

Coming out of the locker room, Mathes extended Lafayette's lead (12-3) with a powerful shot that blew by the Crusaders' goalkeeper. At the 8:32 mark, Mathes connected again off a feed from senior attacker Carter Cecil. Sophomore Zach Zukowsky and freshman Brendan Poirier both added goals, propelling the Leopards to a 15-4 lead with one quarter remaining.

Kopen opened the fourth-quarter scoring with his second goal of his career at the 12:02 mark, giving his team a 16-4 lead. Holy Cross responded with three-straight goals of its own, but Zukowsky halted the run at the 2:28 mark. When time expired, Lafayette captured its first Patriot League win of the season and fourth overall.

Sophomore goalkeeper Joe Doherty and senior Ben Howard both defended the crease for the Leopards today. Doherty made 12 saves during the contest and Howard made three.

Lafayette returns home Saturday for Military Appreciation Day against Loyola.