WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes University men's ice hockey team returned to winning ways on Saturday night. In their final home game of the regular season, the Colonels celebrated Senior Night, defeating Arcadia in a thrilling contest, 3-2. 

With the win, Wilkes improves to 12-7-3 (9-7-2 MAC), while Arcadia falls to 7-12-3 (4-11-3 MAC). 

The visitors struck first just 46 seconds in when Zach Biniaris lit the lamp to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. 

Following the goal, the Colonels put in a few shifts with multiple scoring chances until Bryan Weissler (Floral Park, NY) found twine to tie things up. Senior forwards Christian Blomquist (Wauwatosa, WI/) and Matt Carlson (Delmar, NY/) provided assists on the tally. The two sides went into the first intermission level at one goal apiece. 

At 13:12 into the second period, Carlson scored to make it a 2-1 contest in favor of the Colonels. The seniors were helping out again as Jack Lee (Naperville, IL) notched the primary assist on the goal, while Blomquist grabbed his second helper of the night. 

Blomquist then scored four minutes later on an unassisted play to make it 3-1 in favor of the home side. With a mere two seconds left in the middle frame, Chris Benkovitz scored for Arcadia to make it a one goal game after the Colonels killed off a penalty just four seconds prior. 

In the third period, the goaltenders had their say, as Wilkes' Jeffrey Fillion (Chicoutimi, QC) and the Knights' Hayden Williamson combined for 14 saves in the period, with the latter recording nine of those stops. 

Arcadia pulled their netminder with a minute-and-a-half left in regulation, and stopped a number of scoring chances for the Colonels with the net empty. 

However, were unable to score the late equalizer when the Colonels made a last-ditch, last-second effort to keep the puck out of their own net, securing the victory. 

Fillion ended the game with 21 saves between the pipes in the Wilkes victory. Weissler led the team with six shots on the goal, while Carlson went 12-22 in the faceoff dot. 

Williamson made30 saves in the hard-fought loss. Bryce Battaglia led the Knights with six shots on goal, while Brendan Dicker went 12-16 in faceoffs. 

Prior to the game, the Colonels honored their seven seniors, with Mason Vonk (West Olive, MI/), Carlson, Cam Lowe (Lancaster, MA/), Carter Jordan (Fort Collins, CO/), Blomquist, Lee and Patrick Roginski (Shelby Twp., MI/) all taking part in the pregame festivities. 

The Colonels are on the road for the remainder of the season, and return to action on Friday, Feb. 13, when they will make the short journey to take on cross-town rivals King's College. Puck drop against the Monarchs is slated for 7 p.m. from Revolution Ice Centre in Jenkins Twp, Pa.