UTICA, N.Y. – Wilkes University's John Luna (San Diego, CA/Valley Center) recorded six points including three goals and three assists to lead the visiting Colonels to a 12-11 victory over host Utica College Wednesday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.
 
The win marked the first season opening victory for Wilkes in the program's sixth year since its rebirth in 2016. The Colonels were brought to the brink as Utica made a furious fourth quarter comeback attempt which fell short.
 
Wilkes raced out to a 4-2 lead after one quarter of play thanks to goals from Connor Daly (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Twp.), Luna, Luke Palladino (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) and Eric Ormsby (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley). Daly and Luna added their second strikes early in the second quarter to extend the Colonels advantage to 6-2 with 10:25 left in the first half. Luna made the hat trick compete just before the end of the half scoring unassisted to put Wilkes ahead 7-3 at the break.
 
Alex Myers (Cortland, NY/Cortland) and Kyle Sokol (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) each added goals sandwiched by Utica tallies in the third quarter that kept the Colonels ahead 9-5 after three.
 
Myers notched his second of the game to start the fourth frame before back-to-back Uitca goals cut the deficit to 10-7 with 13:05 left to play. After Daly finished off his third goal of the contest to put Wilkes up 11-7, Utica responded with two consecutive strikes to pull to within two at 11-9 with 6:05 on the clock.
 
Myers finished off the Wilkes scoring with his third of the game at the 3:20 mark setting up the final push by Utica. The Pioneers found the back of the net twice over the next 80 seconds to make it a one goal game with 2:07 remaining. From there Wilkes anchored down and held on for the non-conference road victory.
 
Luna led all Wilkes scorers with six points on the three goals and three assists while Daly and Myers each tallied three goals. Palladino finished with one goal and two helpers. Sokol and Ormsby rounded out the goal scorers for Wilkes in the win.
 
Ryan Lasher (Warrenton, VA/Liberty) played all 60 minutes in net for Wilkes finishing with 15 saves to pick up the victory.
 
Wilkes makes its home debut Saturday when the Colonels welcome Southern Virginia University to Schmidt Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. contest.