EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University women's soccer team built a 1-0 lead early then put the game away late with two more goals within a two minute span on way to a 3-0 shutout over visiting Bard College Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes improved to 2-1-1 overall on the season following the win. Bard dropped to 3-2 overall on the year after the road non-conference defeat.
 
Wilkes was on the attack early and often dominating play in its offensive end throughout the first half. Jessica Egan (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) put the Colonels on the board in the 19^th minute when she took a cross from the right side off the foot of Lexi Gaetano (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) and swiveled past a Bard defender before depositing the ball into the back of the net.
 
Wilkes kept its one goal advantage through the next sixty minutes of play before back-to-back goals pushed the lead to 3-0. Gaetano served up her second assist of the game when she sent a free kick into the box where Emily Bidelspach (Myerstown, PA/ELCO) chipped the ball home over the Bard goalie.
 
Kiana Jedlicka (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) sealed the victory when she scored off a cross from Kiele Riefenstahl (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley) just :49 later rounding out the Colonels scoring in the contest.
 
Wilkes held a decisive 21-3 shot advantage while garnering four corner kicks to Bard's one attempt.
 
Samantha Cecere (Batavia, NY/Batavia) finished with one save to record her second shutout of the season.
 
Wilkes plays its first road contest of the season Wednesday when the Colonels travel to Selinsgrove, Pa. for a matchup with Susquehanna University at 7:00 p.m.