FERRUM, VA – Only trailing 7-6 at the half, the Wilkes University men's lacrosse team was outscored 10-4 over the final two frames falling 17-10 at Ferrum College Tuesday afternoon in the programs first game in over forty years.
 
Wilkes, which began its rebirth of the men's lacrosse program two years ago with the hiring of head coach Curtis Jaques, falls to 0-1 on the young season following the loss.Ferrum improved to 4-3 after recording the home victory.
 
Jeremy Kachel (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) put Wilkes on the board first scoring an unassisted goal just :29 into the contest. After two Ferrum goals, JT Witzel notched the first of his team-high five goals to tie the game at 2-2 with 6:52 left in the first.
 
Ferrum answered back with three more goals in the frame before Matthew Bush (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) found the back of the cage for Wilkes' third tally of the frame as the Colonels trailed 5-3.
 
Weitzel cut the lead to 5-4 after his second strike of the day before adding his third and fourth goal tying the game at 6-6 in the process with 7:10 left in the first half. Ferrum added a goal late in the second quarter to take a slim 7-6 advantage to the break.
 
Ferrum jumped out in the third scoring the first four goals of the quarter to take an 11-6 lead. Weitzel added his fifth and final goal late in the third before Nicholas Ruggiero (Califon, NJ/Voorhees), Max Brown (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) and Kachel notched Wilkes goals in the fourth and final frame.
 
Ferrum outshot Wilkes 57-26 while the Colonels finished with 24 turnovers to the hosts 15 miscues.
 
Brian Manning (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) finished with 17 saves in goal for the Colonels in his first collegiate start in net.
 
Wilkes concludes its spring break trip tomorrow with a 4:00 p.m. matchup with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Va.