EDWARDSVILLE – Colby Opromolla (Patterson, NY/Carmel) posted a game-high five points (one goal and four assists) while surpassing 100 ground balls in his career leading the Wilkes University men's lacrosse team to an 11-9 non-conference victory over visiting Manhattanville College Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes improved to 2-4 overall following the home win while Manhattanville dropped to 2-3 overall on the season.
 
Tim Hartka (Phoenix, MD/Calvert Hall) got the scoring going for Wilkes notching his fifth of the season thanks to a helper from Henry O'Connor (Baltimore, MD/Dulaney) just under two minutes into the game. Luke Weakland (Sparks, MD/Hereford) pushed the lead to 2-0 when he scored unassisted at 13:13 in the first. The Colonels continued to roll offensively early on as O'Connor scored off an Opromolla pass then Hartka cashed in on his second strike of the first to give Wilkes a 4-0 lead with 4:44 left in the opening stanza.
 
Manhattanville answered back to keep things close scoring late in the first quarter and first in the second frame as the Colonels continued to lead 4-2 with 13:41 left in the half. Opromolla called his own number midway through the second scoring his lone goal of the game off a Cameron Krisko (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) assist as Wilkes led 5-2. Weakland added a man-up goal, and his second of the game, four minutes later before back-to-back goals from the Valiants made it 6-4 late in the second quarter. O'Connor finished off the first half scoring with his second of the half thanks to Opromolla's second assist as Wilkes held a 7-4 advantage at the break.
 
Manhattanville made things interesting midway through the third quarter scoring two straight goals to cut the lead to 7-6 with 8:36 left in the frame. The Colonels answered back with two unanswered goals over the final eight minutes of the third and into the fourth as O'Connor and Hartka notched hat tricks to give Wilkes a 9-6 lead. Krisko scored off Opromolla's third assist while Weakland put the game out of reach with 2:20 left to play pushing the lead to 11-8 thanks to yet another great pass from Opromolla.
 
Wilkes outshot Manhattanville 49-35 including 23 on goal in the win. The Colonels were also excellent in the clearing game finishing 24-of-27 on clearing attempts. Luke Wawrzynek (Harleysville, PA/Souderton Area) was also a difference maker in the face-off circle finishing 16-for-22 in attempts starting the potent Wilkes offensive attack.
 
Opromolla added to his great field game with four ground balls surpassing 100 career ground balls in the process. O'Connor and Hartka each finished with three goals and one helper while Krisko added one goal and two assists. Weakland rounded out the scorers with three goals.
 
Joseph Marino (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) earned the win in goal for the Colonels finishing with 12 saves.
 
Wilkes continues its non-conference home stretch Wednesday with a matchup against Lebanon Valley College scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium.