Defensive Matchup Not Enough as Wilkes Men's Lacrosse Falls to Lycoming
WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Wilkes University men's lacrosse team delivered a strong defensive game to the Warriors but ultimately fall short as the Colonels drop Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) action to Lycoming College 6-3 in Wednesday night action.
Wilkes would drop to 2-10 this season and 0-4 in the conference. Lycoming improves to 5-7 on the year and 2-1 in the MAC Freedom.
The first quarter would be scoreless for nearly 12 minutes, with both teams taking opportunities with neither side converting on their shots. Wilkes would get ahead at the 3:18 mark as Henry O'Connor (Baltimore, MD/Dulaney) hits the back of the net to get the Colonels go up 1-0. Lycoming would answer at the 2:37 mark to head into the second quarter tied 1-1. Wilkes would outshoot Lycoming 10-6, with each team having eight ground balls in the first quarter.
The Warriors would go ahead as they would score at the 11:08 and 1:48 marks as they would go into the break up 3-1. Lycoming would have 11 shots in the quarter, outpacing Wilkes' nine in the second.
Wilkes would try to get back into the game in the third quarter as Luke Weakland (Sparks, MD/Hereford) would find the back of the net at the 6:25 mark to get the Colonels within one score of the Warriors. Lycoming would add another goal at the 4:38 mark to go into the final quarter up 4-2 over Wilkes. The Warriors would have 11 shots in the third while Wilkes had 10.
Another goal at the 11:11 mark pushes the Warriors lead to 5-2. Wilkes would put one more effort to get close in the game as Colby Opromolla (Patterson, NY/Carmel) would score with a man up to make the game 5-3. Lycoming would add one more goal at the 5:34 mark and hold on to the lead as Wilkes would fall to the Warriors 6-3 in conference play. The Colonels would outshoot Lycoming 37-36 while being even with 18 shots-on-goal.
Opromolla, Weakland, and O'Connor would each have a goal in the game while Dillon Kadis (McSherrystown, PA/Delone Catholic) would secure the only assist for Wilkes. Hunter Riley (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa Central) would have five ground balls on the night while Luke Wawrzynek (Harleysville, PA/Souderton Area) had four in the game. Matthew Warns (Cutchogue, NY/Mattituck) would have three ground balls in the game, helping him have 100 career ground balls in his career.
Joseph Marino (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) would have 12 saves in the game. Ben Franco had 15 saves for the Warriors.
Wilkes will return home to host Montclair State University in non-conference action on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.as they honor their seniors on Senior Day.
