Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra offense put on a show against visiting Sacred Heart, scoring left and right for a convincing 21-9 win over the Pioneers from James M. Shuart Stadium on a perfect Saturday afternoon. Hofstra moves to 2-0 following today's win, while Sacred Heart opens its 2022 season at 0-1.

Gerard Kane found the back of the net four times in his first start for the Pride, while Dylan McIntosh and Griffin Turner each tallied a hat-trick. Matt Elder led all players in today's game with six points on five assists and one goal in the third quarter. Mac Gates made six saves and earned the win for the Pride, and Bryan McIntosh and Daniel Ochs lead the defense with three caused turnovers apiece.

Elder assisted on the first five Hofstra goals as the Pride took a commanding lead from the opening whistle. McIntosh scored his first of the day, followed by goals from Kane and Justin Sykes before Sacred Heart could put a momentary stop to the run. Elder picked up his fourth and fifth assists of the day with a man-up tally by Elder and Sykes' second goal of the contest, while Charlie Ragault unleashed a fastball off a rebound and Sterlyn Ardrey scored an unassisted strike before Sacred Heart scored with one second left before the buzzer sounded in an 8-2 first quarter for the hosts.

Tom Ford scored the first goal of his career from a deflection off the Sacred Heart goalie to start the second quarter. The Pioneers scored back-to-back goals midway through the frame, but goals by Turner and John Madsen quickly silenced any thoughts of a miraculous comeback as the Pride carried an 11-4 lead into the halftime break.

Ardrey scored his second of the afternoon on a nice individual effort, and Corey Kale went coast-to-coast for his first career goal after causing a Pioneer turnover. Kale's goal was the first of six unanswered goals from the Pride as they blew the game wide open in the third quarter. Turner completed his hat-trick with consecutive goals, McIntosh added his second, Kane tallied his fourth, and Elder found the back of the net to give Hofstra a commanding 18-5 lead. Ryan Sheridan muscled his way for his second goal of the season at the start of the fourth quarter, but Sacred Heart rattled off three straight as Head Coach Seth Tierney began emptying his bench. Madsen and McIntosh scored the 20th and 21st Hofstra goals of the day.

Jake Garb led Sacred Heart with four points on two goals and two assists, while Morgan O'Reilly and Jake Ward each found the back of the net twice. Hofstra scored seven goals inside the first 10:48 on starting goalkeeper Nicky LaBanca, while Alex Pazienza made nine saves and allowed 14 in over 45 minutes between the pipes.

Hofstra returns for its third consecutive home game on Friday, February 18, at 6 p.m. against Navy (1-1). For ticket information to Friday's game and all home Hofstra men's lacrosse games, visit HofstraTickets.com, call (516) HOF-TIXX or stop by the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office in the lobby of the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex during normal business hours. 

NOTES:
-Hofstra moves to 14-0 all-time against Sacred Heart after today's win.
-Matt Elder became the first Hofstra men's lacrosse player since Dylan Alderman against Stony Brook in 2018 to record five assists in a single game.
-The Pride is 2-0 to start its season for the third time in four seasons.
-Hofstra scooped up 43 ground balls to Sacred Heart's 25, with Bryan McIntosh leading all players with eight.
-The 21 goals scored against Sacred Heart are the most scored in a single game by Hofstra since the Pride won 21-11 over Wagner on February 8, 2020.
-Sean Henderson saw the field in the final 3:37 of the game and made two saves in his collegiate debut.