SCRANTON, PA – Host Marywood University erased a two-goal deficit with just over eight minutes to play then notched the game-winner in double overtime to escape with an 8-7 victory over Wilkes University Thursday afternoon at Pacers Field.
 
Wilkes fell in its season opener dropping to 0-1 on the young season while Marywood picked up its first win of the year improving to 1-3 overall.
 
The Colonels built a two-goal lead early in the second quarter at 4-2 when Connor Daly (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Twp.) and John Wink (Glenside, PA/Abington) scored back-to-back man-up goals with 13:56 left in the opening half. Daly's strike was unassisted on the advantage while Nico Lorenzo (Howell, NJ/Howell) notched the assist on Wink's tally.
 
Marywood answered back with two goals, one to end the second quarter and one to start the third stanza tying the game at 5 with 13:20 on the clock.
 
Wilkes went back to the offensive over the next five minutes of play as Wink added his second goal of the contest (man-up) and Daly completed his hat trick as the Colonels led 6-4 with 8:25 left in the third. Marywood responded with one goal before the third quarter horn sounded to keep Wilkes ahead 6-5 after three.
 
JT Weitzel (Hampstead, MD/North Carroll) provided the third two-goal lead of the game early in the fourth quarter when he found the back of the net unassisted giving Wilkes a 7-5 advantage with 8:10 left in regulation. From there the Pacers converted two man-up opportunities with the latter tying the game with 3:02 on the clock.
 
The teams went scoreless through the four minutes of the first overtime as all three Wilkes shots went high or wide of the Marywood goal. A slashing call against Wilkes gave the Pacers a man-up opportunity with 1:12 left in the second overtime and the hosts took advantage scoring the game-winner with :55 left in the frame to escape with the 8-7 non-conference victory.
 
Daly led all scorers with a career-high three goals while Wink followed with two tallies. Weitzel notched one goal while Luke Palladino (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) recorded the first goal of his collegiate career in the defeat.
 
Carter Whittemore (Rochester, NY/West Irondequoit) finished with 12 saves in net for Wilkes playing all 67:05 in net.
 
Wilkes makes its home debut Saturday hosting Wesley College at 1:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium.