PURCHASE, N.Y. – Host Manhattanville College raced out to an 8-2 lead at the half and held off a strong Wilkes University second half run to post a 14-8 non-conference victory over the Colonels in the 2024 season opener on Sunday afternoon.
 
Wilkes fell to 0-1 overall while Manhattanville improved to 2-0 on the young season.
 
Manhattanville opened a 2-0 lead midway through the first quarter before Austin Sosnovik (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) notched his first collegiate goal off an assist from Colby Opromolla (Patterson, NY/Carmel) with 6:13 on the clock to cut the advantage in half.
 
The Valiants scored two more times in the first frame to take a 4-1 lead into the second quarter. The lead grew to 5-1 before Sosnovik struck again, this time unassisted at the 7:40 mark of the second. Manhattanville closed out its strong first half with three unanswered goals including one on the man-up advantage to take the six-goal lead at the break.
 
Jackson Casper (Bel Air, MD/Bel Air) scored Wilkes' third goal 8:56 into the third quarter to keep the Colonels at pace trailing 9-3. Opromolla went on the offensive under a minute later recording his first tally of the game before Casper posted his second goal of the frame to bring the Colonels to within four at 9-5.
 
After a Manhattanville goal, Opromolla scored his second of the day on the man-up advantage thanks to a helper from Austin Seames (Newton, NJ/Kittatinny Regional) with 2:34 left in the quarter. Manhattanville added one last goal to end the third frame to keep an 11-6 lead heading into the final stanza.
 
Opromolla completed his hat trick two minutes into the fourth quarter as Wilkes trailed 11-7. Back-to-back Valiant goals pushed the advantage back to 13-7 before Sosnovik made it two Colonels with a hat trick in the contest scoring his third of the game off a pass from Anthony DelDuca (Westchester, NY/Westlake) on the man-up advantage with just under six minutes remaining. Manhattanville added one more insurance goal in the final three minutes to seal the home non-league victory.
 
Sosnovik and Opromolla each totaled three goals and one assist to lead the Colonels attack. Matthew Warns (Cutchogue, NY/Mattituck) led the midfield/defense with two caused turnovers and a team-high eight ground balls. Joseph Marino (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) finished with 18 saves in net for Wilkes.
 
The Colonels continue their road stretch to open the season on Wednesday when they travel to Scranton, Pa. for a matchup with Marywood University at 4:00 p.m.