Hempstead, NY - Senior Sam Llinares scored five goals and added one assist and junior Josh Byrne added three goals and four assists to lead the eighth-ranked Hofstra Pride to a 19-4 victory over the Highlanders of New Jersey Institute of Technology at James M. Shuart Stadium Tuesday night.

Hofstra improved to 3-0 on the season while the second-year Highlanders of NJIT slip to 0-5.

Llinares scored five goals for the second time this season after a five-goal performance at UNC on February 20. It was one goal off his career-high, set against Manhattan in 2015. He now has 11 goals and two assists on the year.

Byrne, this week's Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week, added a season-high seven points to boost his season totals to 12 goals and six assists in three contests. Junior Zachary Franco posted a career-best three goals while classmate Trevor Kupecky added two goals and two assists for the Pride. Nine Hofstra players recorded goals including three who notched their first goals of the season.

Junior midfielder Kris Clarke won 14 of 19 face-offs and picked up nine ground balls. Sophomore goalie Jack Concannon made nine saves in the Pride cage in 45 minutes of action. Hofstra outshot NJIT, 64-21 and picked up 53 ground balls to the Highlanders' 21. The Pride also converted on four of eight extra man opportunities, including three by Llinares.

The Highlanders were led by John Roach with two goals while Joe Lomeli and Tyler Baggett added one goal each.

Hofstra scored seven of the first eight goals in the first quarter with Llinares getting the hat-trick in the first 15 minutes as the Pride led 7-2 after one period. The Pride added five more in the second with Llinares adding two more and Byrne getting two more to complete his hat-trick by halftime.

Pride coach Seth Tierney used all of his healthy players in the second half with sophomores Mitch Kingsley and Brendan Kavanagh and junior Zachary Franco all recording their first goals of the season.
 
Hofstra returns to action on Saturday, March 5 when the Pride host the Hoyas of Georgetown University at James M. Shuart. Game time is noon. The Hofstra game will be followed by another men's game between Duke and Harvard which begins at 3 p.m.

Fans can purchase tickets by visiting HofstraTickets.com, where it is now possible to print your tickets at home. In addition fans can also call (516) HOF-TIXX or visit the Hofstra Athletics Box Office in the Mack Sports Complex for more ticket information.