EDWARDSVILLE – Senior Matthew Horwedel (Delanson, NY/Schalmont Senior) put in a diving header 80 minutes into the contest to break a stalemate as the Wilkes University men's soccer team won a big Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) game over Misericordia University Wednesday night at Bruggeworth Field.

With possible playoff positioning on the line Wilkes improved to 4-2-0 in the conference and to 7-7-1 overall. Misericordia, receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches national poll, dropped to 4-1-0 in the MAC Freedom and 9-2-4 overall.

Nick Kinzler (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) made the first save of the contest low to his left in the sixth minute. The Colonels earned their first scoring chances of the game with three consecutive corners in the 14th, 15th, and 16th minutes with Vincent Ippolito's (Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) shot on the third attempt going wide left. Horwedel found an open opportunity from around 15 yards out in the 19th minute but his shot sailed high of the Cougars goal.

Horwedel had another opportunity this time with a rocket from about 25 yards out that went just over the crossbar in the 22nd minute.

In the 28th minute Trent Wall ripped a shot for the Cougars that Kinzler knocked wide of the far post with a terrific dive to his right to keep the game scoreless.

Horwedel had the next opportunity as he dribbled the length of the midfield and worked his way into the Cougars box where he got off a left-footed shot that Andrew Daubenspeck corralled to his right.

Kinzler made his third save on a shot labeled for the near post in the 38th minute. With the game scoreless at half, Misericordia led 7-5 in total shots as Wilkes held the edge in corner kicks 3-1.

Alexei King of the Cougars nearly broke the tie in the 47th minute when his header was labeled for the right netting of the Colonels goal but Matthew Meagher (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) was able to keep the ball from crossing the goal line in spectacular fashion for Wilkes.

The next good opportunity came in the 67th minute when Max Gariano's header from in close went right into the midsection of Kinzler as he caught it with no rebound.

In the 76th minute Chris Bird (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) played a cross into the middle of the box that Horwedel nearly got a foot to but Daubenspeck was able to gain control to quell the Colonels first good opportunity of the second half.

The Colonels gained the lead in right at the 81st minute as Nicholas Surgent (Wall. NJ/Wall) beat a defender out on the left flank to gain space to play the ball into the center where Horwedel connected with a diving header inside the middle of the six-yard box to find the back of the net. For Horwedel it was his seventh goal of the season.

In the 86th minute Kinzler made a save on a header through traffic from Richard Billings. Logan Moore's shot in the 89th minute went a few feet wide of the Colonels goal for the Cougars last opportunity to tie the game.

Misericordia led 11-6 in shots and 6-2 in shots on goal for the game. Wilkes led 3-1 in corners while Misericordia had 11 fouls to 10 for Wilkes.

Kinzler made five saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season. Daubenspeck made one save for the Cougars.

The Colonels play their final non-conference game of the season Saturday at New York University in New York City at Gaelic Park at 4:00 p.m.