EDWARDSVILLE – Host Wilkes University broke open a close game at the half outscoring visiting Rosemont 7-1 in the third quarter as the Colonels posted a 15-8 non-conference victory Wednesday afternoon in their home opener at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes earned its first win of the 2022 season improving to 1-2 overall on the season. Rosemont dropped to 1-3 overall on the year following the road defeat.
 
The teams traded goals early in the first quarter as strikes from Luke Palladino (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) and Cameron Krisko (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) tied the game at 2-2 with 11:04 left in the opening frame.
 
Luke Weakland (Sparks, MD/Hereford) notched his first collegiate goal five minutes into the second quarter to tie the game again at three before Kyle Sokol (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) gave the Colonels a 4-3 lead with 5:04 remaining until the half. After a Rosemont goal, Weakland added his second goal of the contest as Wilkes took a 5-4 lead into the break.
 
From there it was all Wilkes in the deciding third quarter as the Colonels outscored the Ravens 7-1 in the frame. Palladino got the scoring started with his second of the day off an assist from Eric Ormsby (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley). One minute later Dillon Kadis (McSherrystown, PA/Delone Catholic) scored followed by a goal from Alex Myers (Cortland, NY/Cortland) that pushed the advantage to 8-4 with 10:47 left in the third.
 
Ormsby, Palladiino and Krisko finished off the tear before a Rosemont goal stopped the run with the Colonels leading 11-5 with 1:37 left in the third.
 
Ethan Weaver (Olney, MD/James Hubert Blake) scored with one second left in the third and Ormsby notched second goal with 6:00 left in the fourth quarter. Myers pushed the lead to 14-7 before Kadis finished off the Colonels scoring with his second tally with :57 remaining to seal the home victory.
 
Ormsby and Krisko had five points on two goals and three assists while Palladino recorded a hat trick finishing with three goals and one assist.
 
Ryan Lasher (Warrenton, VA/Liberty) recorded the win in goal for Wilkes starting and playing 49:02 before being relieved by Daniel Cox (Stratford, CT/Stratford) in the fourth. Lasher finished with 14 saves while Cox made three stops.
 
Mason Dennis led Rosemont with five points on four goals and one assist.
 
Wilkes will travel to Ferrum, Virginia for two games, first Saturday against Averett University at 4:00 p.m. before a matchup with the host Ferrum College on Sunday at  2:00 p.m.