Box Score
HAMBURG, NY – Hilbert College completed their regular season schedule with a 20-1 victory over Wells College April 28th. Prior to the first face-off, the men’s lacrosse team honored their five seniors who played their last home game of the season. The Hawks (9-4, 5-2 NEAC) now move on, for the first time in their three-year Division III status, to the NEAC semi-finals which start May 1.
Sean Purtill, after his five point performance today, became the NEAC-leading point scorer at the completion of the 2013 regular season. He finished his junior year with 73 points via 38 goals and 35 assists.
Joining the Orchard Park native with five points was senior Greg Zitnik. Both attackmen scored twice and assisted on three other goals for the Hawks. The leading goal scorers for the day were face-off specialists, senior Ryan Wagner and junior Nick Kieffer who added three scores a piece. William Wagner and Alex Wisner split time between the pipes with Wagner getting credit for two saves.
Wells (1-12, 0-7 NEAC) played the day with a very short bench. Tyler Bischoff was very active in net making 14 saves on the day for the visitors. Dan Schilling netted the Express goal at 4:37 in the opening quarter.
Hilbert went deep into their bench with 29 players picking up at least one traceable stat. Wagner gathered up six ground balls, while Zitnik and Roland Jimerson were credited with five each.
Hilbert held large advantages in shots (59-9), ground balls (57-28), face-off wins (19 vs. 5) and committed fifteen fewer turnovers.
Besides Zitnik and Ryan Wagner, James Knapp (1 goal, 1 assist, four ground balls, one caused turnover), Lucas Cellino (1 assist, four ground balls, 2 for 2 on face-offs) and Paul Liedkie (1 shot, one ground ball and two caused turnovers) all fought through the team’s growing pains from club status, to Division III competition and now, onto conference play-offs for the first time.
Up next for Hilbert is a rematch against Medaille College, whom the Hawks lost to in overtime this past week. Hilbert will be full strength by Wednesday will all athletes strong enough to compete after the stomach bug sidelined a few players over this week. The site and time of the semi-final game has yet to be announced. Follow the progress of the tourney by click here for the NEAC website.