EDWARDSVILLE -- Under the lights at Schmidt Stadium, the Colonels set off fireworks against the Penn State Berks Nittany Lions in an 4-1 affair Friday night to open the season.
 
The Colonels notched a victory in their 2019 season-opener to start 1-0-0.  Senior Kyle Bentz (Camp Hill, PA/Camp Hill) scored a pair of goals to lead Wilkes to victory.
 
The Colonels came out firing in the first half.  Bentz opened the scoring off of a free kick by senior Hunnter Maxwell (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) with another assist from junior Shane Henehan (Bensalem, PA/Mast Community Charter School) in the box.  Wilkes struck again off of a free kick by freshman Matthew Horwedel (Delanson, NY/Schalmont Senior) in the 40^th minute in the game which was punched in by Henehan to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
 
Junior Nicholas Gaydos (Bloomsburg, PA/Central Columbia) continued the scoring early in the second half, netting a beautiful goal from the left side of the penalty area into the upper right corner of the goal to extend the Wilkes lead to 3-0 thanks to an assist from sophomore Gabriel Nieves (Yorktown Heights, NY/Lakeland Senior). 
 
The Nittany Lions got on the board with Nate Nguyen taking a clear breakaway in the 66^th minute, but Bentz answered with insurance at the 83rd minute with a pass in the penalty area from sophomore Jacob Bausher (Hamburg, PA/Hamburg Area) to conclude the fireworks on the evening.
 
Sophomore Nicholas Surgent (Wall. NJ/Wall) led all Colonels with four shots on the evening, while Bentz shot twice and scored twice.  Sophomore Russell Rauh (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington Senior) notched three saves and allowed no goals in his first goalkeeper victory in the Navy and Blue.  The Colonels shot 17 times on the evening.
 
The Colonels continue their home stretch to start the season on Monday at Schmidt Stadium.  They host the McDaniel Green Terror at 2:00 p.m. in another non-conference affair.