ALFRED, NY – Rookie Tyler Nicoloff 's four points led Hilbert College today in the lacrosse team's 2014 season debut against Alfred University.  The Saxons dealt the Hawks a 20-7 defeat as Alfred improved to 2-1 overall and Hilbert dropped to 0-1. 

Nicoloff and Matthew Simon each netted twice for the visitors with Nicoloff setting up two of his teammates scores during the day. 

The hosts were led by Brendan Sullivan and Nicolas Wood who each scored four goals and assisted twice pushing the Saxon offense to 14-first half goals.

Alfred jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Simon scored his first collegiate goal for the royal and white off a Doug Takac pass with 1:06 remaining in the first quarter.  After netting once more before the quarter break, the Saxons turned up their offense and found the back of the net seven more times before intermission to take a 14-1 lead.

Alfred out-powered the Hawks gaining 34 shots while holding Hilbert to just eight in the first half.

Nicoloff scored an unassisted marker to give him his first Hilbert goal of his career with 10:12 on the clock in the third period.  Alfred rallied for five un-answered goals before Nick Keiffer delivered a Nicoloff pass between the pipes, cutting the score to 19-3 by the end of the 3rd period.

Hilbert outplayed the Saxons in the final period, posting a 4-1 scoring advantage.  Simon and Elliott Russillio scored man-advantage goals while Nicoloff and DeCocq surprised the hosts with back-to-back hits only thirty-seconds apart to close out the non-league game.

Alfred's game experience gained in the two early contests prior to today's game benefited them as they won 21 of the 28 face-offs and held a 35-13 ground ball advantage for the day. 

Nick Keiffer was able to win six of the 20 face-offs he participated in while Doug Takac led the Hawks with three ground balls.  Aaron Valino was credited with two caused turnovers.

William Wagner took the loss in goal protecting the frame for the first 21:20 before first year's Brenden Deady (23:40) and Adam Zawadzki (14:38) closed the day.

Hilbert returns to action next week during their Spring Break training session in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The Hawks take on Emmanuel College March 14 while they gain the footing on real grass and field spacing outside.