DANVILLE, Ky. (CentreColonels.com) – Sophomore attackman Dominic Peluso (Redondo Beach, Calif.) and senior midfielder Austin Zender (Prospect, Ky.) each netted three goals apiece to lead the Centre men's lacrosse team to a 12-5 victory over visiting Cornell College on Monday night at Farris Stadium.

The Colonels improve to 4-1 on the season with the win, while the Rams fall to 3-2.

Cornell took a 2-1 lead in the first quarter as Carlos Siguenza found the back of the net twice for the Rams, before Peluso found Zehnder who stung the top right corner of the cage from 15 yards out with 1:28 showing on the clock to even the game at 2-2.

Centre opened the second quarter with three consecutive goals, as Peluso's second score of the night off the feed by senior midfielder Lorenzo Powell (Newcastle, Wash.) put the Colonels on top 3-2 followed by goals by freshman attackman John Morrison (Franklin, Tenn.) and Powell to give Centre a 5-2 advantage. Freshman midfielder Dominic Nayan (Memphis, Tenn.) recorded the helper on Morrison's goal.

Cornell's Evan Bush cut the Colonels' edge to 5-3 with a goal before Peluso's third goal of the contest off the assist by junior attackman Austin Glang (Fayetteville, Ga.) pushed the Centre lead to 6-3 heading into half time.

The third period belonged to the Colonels, as the hosts tallied five goals to extend their advantage to 11-3.

Zehnder started the Centre run with the goal off the dish by sophomore midfielder Emerson Prager (Colchester, Vt.) before finding senior midfielder Bryant Portwood (Charlotte, N.C.) for a goal.

Zehnder then completed the hat trick with another snipe from 15 yards out off the feed from senior long stick midfielder Mason Paas (Louisville, Ky.).

Morrison would score his second goal of the night with the assist by Peluso followed by another shot and score from long range, this time by junior midfielder Pierce Barber (Louisville, Ky.) late in the stanza.

Barber added another goal on the man-up opportunity early in the fourth quarter off the dish by Portwood to give the Colonels a 12-3 edge.

The Rams would tack on two goals in the final period to minimize the final deficit to 12-5.

Peluso finished with three goals and a pair of assists to pace Centre, while Zehnder added three goals and an assist.

Barber and Morrison recorded two goals apiece for the Colonels. Powell and Portwood each had a goal and an assist, and Pass had the assist, four ground balls and three caused turnovers.

Freshman Lucas Mozingo (Chattanooga, Tenn.) won 12 faceoffs and picked up a team-high five ground balls. Senior defender Jake Marfise (Tampa, Fla.) added four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers for Centre.

Junior goalkeeper Sam Long (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded five saves on the night.

The Colonels open Southern Athletic Association (SAA) play on Saturday, March 18 with a road matchup at defending conference champion Sewanee at 1 p.m. CT.