EDWARDSVILLE (PA) – Wilkes University used a 6-0, second half run to pull away from visiting Delaware Valley University and earn a 16-12 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom victory on Wednesday afternoon.

The Aggies (3-12, 1-5 MAC Freedom) got on the board 1:13 into the game with Matt Waibel scoring on a solo effort. Less than 20 seconds later, the Colonels (7-8, 2-4 MAC Freedom) answered with a J.T. Weitzel tally.

Jordan Smith set-up Waibel during a man-up situation for his second of the day, and a two-goal DelVal. Wilkes countered to make it a 4-3 game, but Smith scored just before the end of the first stanza to put the Aggies ahead, 5-3, going into the second.

The Colonels used a 5-0 run to start the second quarter and take an 8-5 lead with 6:54 left before halftime. Wilkes got a man-up goal from Nico Lorenzo and John Luna scored twice in the spurt. DelVal scored twice in nine seconds to close out the half and pull to within one at 8-7. Dylan Brasch and Bryan Thompson had the tallies.

Just eight seconds into the second half the Aggies tied the game as P.J. Rafferty set up Smith on a man-up opportunity to make it 8-8.

The rest of the third quarter belonged to the home team as Wilkes scored six straight to take the largest lead of the game at 14-8. Matthew Bush highlighted the run with a pair of goals.

DelVal came out strong in the fourth and cut its deficit to 14-11 with three unanswered goals in the first 2:23 of the quarter. Chris Coyle got his first of the game followed by strikes from Rafferty and Brasch.

However, the Colonels got the next two goals and held the Aggies off the board until Brandon Keller notched a late man-up tally for the 16-12 final.

???????Rafferty and Smith led DelVal with two goals and two assist for four points apiece, and Smith grabbed six ground balls and caused two turnovers. Brasch, Coyle, Keller, and Waibel each had two-point games
and Nick Shendge added a tally. Bryan Thompson went 18-for-29 on faceoffs and secured eight ground balls. Nic Brown played the first three quarters in goal and made three saves in the loss, and Zach
Winfield played the final 15 minutes and made two stops.

For Wilkes, Jeremy Kachel had four assists and Luna finished with four goals, but it was Lorenzo that led the squad with five points in two goals and three helpers. Connor Daly added three scores and John Wink had two goals and an assist. Carter Whittemore went the distance in goal and made 15 saves in the victory.

The Aggies will close out the season on Saturday, April 28 with a 1 p.m. home game against MAC Freedom foe Manhattanville College where the team will also honor their seniors.