EDWARDSVILLE, PA – The Wilkes University men's lacrosse team fell short in overtime, falling 9-8 to future Landmark Conference opponent Juniata College in a non-conference game at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
                                                  
The Colonels move to 0-2 on the season and the Eagles move to 1-0.
 
Wilkes was consistent throughout the game, scoring two goals in each quarter. The Colonels were first to strike in the game, with Joseph Kozlowski (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) scoring his third goal of the season less than two minutes into the game. First year Joseph Markey (Lebanon, NJ/North Hunterdon) scored his first goal with the Colonels with an assist from Kozlowski to finish out the first quarter. Juniata scored three goals in the first quarter.
 
The Eagles started off the second quarter with a goal about 20 seconds in during a man-up opportunity. Luke Weakland (Sparks, MD/Hereford) was able to score twice in the quarter with assists from Jacob Kudysch (Stratford, CT/Frank Scott Bunnell) and Colby Opromolla (Patterson, NY/Carmel). By the end of the second quarter, Juniata led Wilkes 5-4.
 
The Colonels were able to take the lead and keep the Eagles from the net in the third quarter, after back to back goals from Opromolla and Kozlowski. The fourth quarter began with Wilkes leading Juniata 6-5.
 
Juniata evened things out and then took the lead in the fourth quarter with back to back goals. Tim Hartka (Phoenix, MD/Calvert Hall) was able to tie the game up at seven but the Eagles found the net once again, leading the Colonels 8-7 with six minutes left in the quarter. With three minutes left in the game and playing man-down, Joseph Marino (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) made a save and then took the ball to the offensive end. He then fed the ball to Kozlowski, who was able to score and tie up the game at eight sending the game into overtime.
 
Less than one minute into overtime Juniata was able to score, finishing out the game winning 9-8 over Wilkes.
 
The Colonels outshot the Eagles in the second quarter (8-9) and the third quarter (16-4), as well as overall in the game (43-37). Kozlowski and Hartka each had 10 shots in the game, followed by Dillon Kadis (McSherrystown, PA/Delone Catholic) and Opromolla each with five. Kozlowski had the most shots on goal out of both teams in the game with six. Marino made a total of 18 saves in the game.
 
Wilkes dominated with caused turnovers in the game, earning a total of 15, while Juniata had six. Brendan Keegan (Middletown, NY/Pine Bush) and Opromolla each had four and Hunter Riley (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa Central) had three.
 
Juniata had the most ground balls with 49, Wilkes with 35. Riley and Opromolla each had five ground balls and Matthew Warns (Cutchogue, NY/Mattituck) had four.
 
The Colonels were 26-30 on clears and the Eagles were 26-28.
 
The Wilkes men's lacrosse team returns to action on February 25 when they host Neumann University at 1:00 p.m. for a non-conference game.