MADISON, NJ – Visiting Wilkes University scored eight goals over the final two quarters but the late surge fell short as the Colonels fell 11-9 at FDU-Florham Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale for both squads.
 
Wilkes finishes its 2016 season with a 0-15 overall record, while FDU-Florham moves to 6-9 overall and 4-3 in MAC Freedom league play.
 
FDU-Florham jumped out to an 8-1 lead with the lone Wilkes goal coming from Max Brown (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) off an assist from Jeremy Kachel (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) as the host Devils led by seven goals at the break.
 
From there it was all Wilkes as the Colonels stormed out of the half scoring three of the third quarter's first four goals. Kachel, John Wink (Glenside, Pa./Abington) and Matthew Bush (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) all found the back of the net to cut the deficit to 9-4.
 
Another goal from Bush and a strike from Nicholas Ruggiero (Califon, NJ/Voorhees) brought Wilkes to within four down 10-6 with 14:11 left in the fourth quarter. After FDU-Florham tallied its last goal of the game, Wilkes went on a 3-0 run with a goal from Bush and two from Ruggerio as the Colonels trailed 11-9 with six minutes remaining.
 
FDU-Florham was able to control the final six minutes of the game in its offensive end to secure the three goal conference win.
 
Ruggiero and Bush each posted hat tricks for Wilkes. Ruggiero added a season-high seven ground balls. Brian Manning (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) finished with 10 saves in net for the Colonels.