MADISON, NJ – Junior midfielder Eric Ormsby (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) scored the game-winning goal in overtime to complete a hat trick and lead the Wilkes University men's lacrosse team to a 9-8 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) victory over host FDU-Florham Saturday at Robert T. Shields Field. Seven different players scored for the Colonels in the victory.

With the victory Wilkes improved to 2-6 overall and to 2-4 in league games while FDU-Florham dropped to 1-7 overall and to 1-4 in the MAC Freedom.

Ethan Weaver (Olney, MD/James Hubert Blake) opened the scoring for the Colonels with his team-leading tenth goal of the season off an assist from Colby Opromolla (Patterson, NY/Carmel). Opromolla followed with his fifth goal of the year. Ormsby then scored his first of the game with an assist from Weaver on the man-up at the 5:53 mark of the first quarter to put Wilkes ahead 3-0.

The Colonels took a 3-1 lead into the second quarter and at the 7:10 mark Luke Palladino (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) extended the advantage with his eighth goal of the season. The Devils countered with the final four goals of the second quarter, including one on the man-up, to take a 5-4 lead into halftime.

Drew Bukowiec completed a hat trick with the first goal of the third quarter as FDU-Florham took a two-goal lead. Ormsby responded with his second goal, again from Weaver, to cut the deficit to one. After a Devils goal, Matthew Warns (Cutchogue, NY/Mattituck) found the net for his second goal of the year as Weaver picked up his third assist of the game. Jacob Kudysch (Stratford, CT/Frank Scott Bunnell) then scored his third of the season with a helper from Alex Myers (Cortland, NY/Cortland) as the Colonels tied the game at seven late in the third quarter.

Myers then gave Wilkes an 8-7 lead at the 12:09 mark of the fourth quarter with his ninth tally of the season. Tyler Garcia would tie the game with 2:13 left in regulation for the hosts.

Ormsby found the net off a pass from Opromolla in overtime to hand Wilkes the dramatic win. The goal was the third of the day for Ormsby to bring his season total to five.

Daniel Cox (Stratford, CT/Stratford) was excellent in goal for the Colonels as he made seven saves in the first half. Ryan Lasher (Warrenton, VA/Liberty) played the final 30 minutes and overtime to record the win finishing with eight saves. Weaver led the offense with four points on a goal and three assists while Opromolla and Ormsby had three point games. Tucker Parmer (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata) led Wilkes with four ground balls while Jamison Shaw (Marmora, NJ/Ocean City) and Nico Lorenzo (Howell, NJ/Howell) added three each. Opromolla led the way with three caused turnovers.

Dan Schlupp made 18 saves for FDU-Florham in the losing effort.

Wilkes led 37-32 in shots and 27-23 in shots on goal for the game. FDU-Florham had a slight edge in ground balls 25-24 and faceoff wins 11-10. Wilkes went 1-for-2 on the man-up while holding the Devils to a 1-for-6 mark on their chances.

The Colonels will return to the Ralston Athletic Complex to begin a four-game home stand to close the regular season when they face Lycoming College for a MAC Freedom game on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.