WORCESTER, Mass. — Colgate cruised to an 18-8 victory over Holy Cross Saturday afternoon at Fitton Field.
 
With the win and other results across the conference, the Raiders officially clinched a spot in the Patriot League Tournament.
 
Michael Minicus led Colgate with a career-best nine points, tying his career-high with five goals and logging four assists. Rory Connor tied his career-best with eight points behind six goals and two helpers. He also led the defensive efforts with three caused turnovers. Jack Turner registered a hat trick, and Hunter Drouin scored twice.
 
Four other players caused two turnovers. John Carrabine, Max Yates, Minicus, and Turner scooped up four ground balls to lead the way.
 
The Raiders began the game on a 4-0 run, getting back-to-back goals from Minicus. Turner then got his first of the afternoon, followed by a tally from Griffin Walker. Holy Cross fought its way back, going on a 3-0 streak to tie the score up at 4-4.
 
Colgate pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring the Crusaders 8-0. Connor notched his first of the contest just over two and a half minutes in, and Drouin followed two minutes later. Minicus and Turner also found the back of the net in the late stages of the quarter.
 
Minicus completed his hat trick at the 8:53 mark, then Turner took advantage of a Crusader turnover, firing one into an empty net shortly after to make it 8-4. Connor then registered a first-half hat trick with back-to-back goals, the second coming off a beautiful behind-the-back pass from Jacob Sposita.
 
In the third, Connor fired one home a minute and a half in, making it 13-4. Following a Holy Cross goal, Colin Ruppenstein answered with a rocket. Drouin pushed the advantage to double digits at 15-5 with his team-best fifth man-up goal of the season.
 
Colgate continued the scoring in the fourth, beginning with Connor scoring twice and Minicus adding another to his total, expanding the lead to 18-6. The Crusaders then went on to score the game's final two goals.

Matt LaCombe made 10 saves in nearly 55 minutes of work. First-year Brody Burrell subbed in for the final 5:08 of the game.
 
UP NEXT
The Raiders wrap up the regular season with a crucial game against Boston University at 6 p.m. next Friday inside Andy Kerr Stadium. The team will host its LaCROSSe Out Cancer Game in support of Pediatric Cancer.