WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore Hadley Cepiel and senior Tory Rider both scored four goals, as the Holy Cross women's lacrosse team defeated No. 17 Loyola (Md.) 14-9 at Kuzniewski Field. The Crusaders improve to 6-9 on the season and 4-4 in the Patriot League with the win, while the Greyhounds fall to 10-6 overall and 6-2 in the conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Holy Cross started the game hot, jumping out to a quick 5-1 lead after the first eight minutes of play. 
• The Crusaders were still up by four (6-2) at the end of the first quarter, and increased their advantage to 9-4 by halftime.
• Holy Cross expanded its lead to six (12-6) on a goal by Rider at the start of the fourth quarter, before Loyola netted back-to-back goals to trim the deficit to four.
• But goals from Rider and junior Annabel Brennan put the Crusaders back up by six (14-8) with 6:46 left to play, and Holy Cross went on to win by five.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• Senior Mackenzie Creagh made six saves on the day, to go along with three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
• Senior Racheli Levy-Smith totaled 10 draw controls, four caused turnovers and three ground balls.
• Junior Kate Avitabile tallied a team-high seven points on two goals and five assists.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• The victory was the first ever by Holy Cross over a ranked opponent in the history of the program.
• The Crusaders also handed Loyola just its second all-time loss in Patriot League regular season play.

SENIOR DAY:
• Following the contest, seven senior members of the program who will be graduating next month were honored in a postgame ceremony.
• Creagh, Levy-Smith, Rider, Kate Burns, Lily Glance, Phoebe Matuch and Sophia Pyne were all recognized.

UP NEXT:
• Holy Cross will return to action on Thursday, April 23, when it plays host to Boston University in its regular season finale at 5 p.m.

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