EDWARDSVILLE – Visiting Marywood University raced out to an 8-3 lead at the half on way to a 16-5 victory over host Wilkes University Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
 
With the win Marywood picked up its first victory of the year standing 1-6 overall. Wilkes falls to 0-5 overall after the defeat.
 
The Pacers took a 3-0 lead before Wilkes' John Wink (Glenside, Pa./Abington) found the back of the net off an assist from Matthew Bush (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) to cut the advantage to two goals at the 2:49 mark of the first quarter. After two straight goals from Marywood, Wink rang true for another goal using the same connection from Bush as the Pacers led 5-2 with 8:30 left in the second stanza.
 
Another two straight goals from Marywood ended the Pacers rally in the first half before Nicholas Ruggiero (Califon, NJ/Voorhees) scored his sixth goal of the season at 3:20 to cut the lead to 8-2 at the break.
 
Marywood notched eight more goals in the second half using a decisive offensive attack using clock to setup set plays in the scoring zone. JT Weitzel (Hampstead, Md./North Carroll) and Wink added the two Wilkes' second half goals.
 
Marywood held a 47-24 shot advantage while controlling the face-off circle taking 20-of-26 attempts.
 
Brian Manning (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) finished with 15 saves in net for Wilkes.
 
Wilkes travels to Gwynedd-Mercy on Tuesday for a non-conference matchup at 7:00 p.m.