The Wilkes University men's soccer team hosted FDU-Florham for a conference showdown Saturday afternoon at the newly opened Bruggeworth Field.

The Colonels (5-3-2, 1-0) took their first MAC Freedom victory of the season over the Devils (5-4-1, 0-1) in a 2-1 affair.

Sophomore midfielder Gabriel Nieves (Yorktown Heights, NY/Lakeland Senior) opened the scoring with a goal in the 21^st minute with a shot into the upper left corner thanks to an assist from junior midfielder Danny McGinley (Brodheadsville, PA/Pleasant Valley).  The Devils and Colonels each had eight shots apiece in the first half, but sophomore goalkeeper Russell Rauh's (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington Senior) five saves locked down the Devils in the first period.
 
McGinley added in another contribution to the Colonel effort in the 57^th minute with a shot into the back of the net thanks to an assist from junior forward Jeffrey Eager-Heffner (Blandon, PA/Fleetwood Area).  An error in front of their own net proved to be costly to the Colonels in the 63^rd minute, leaving their lead at 2-1.   The Colonels defense clamped down on the Devils afterwards, with their only two shots through the end of the game being saved by Rauh.
 
Senior midfielder Kyle Bentz (Camp Hill, PA/Camp Hill) led the Colonels with six shots on the afternoon, three of which were on goal.  Nieves added in three shots of his own, while three other Colonels had two shots apiece.  Rauh once again proved to be effective in net, with eight saves on the afternoon.
 
The Colonels head out to Oneota, N.Y. on Wednesday to start a three-game road trip.  They play at Hartwick College starting at 7 p.m. in a non-conference affair.