HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert College battled to a 2-1 loss to Wells College in men's soccer this afternoon.  Thanks to a few big Ryan Valentine saves in the first half, Hilbert matched the Express' point production by half time, but a long goalie kick from the visitors set up the game winner late in the game. 

Matthew Buehlmann headed in his second goal of the season in the first 90-seconds of the match. Tyler Eister served a corner right to the big guy's head for the 1-0 lead at 1:38.

Wells got on the board before halftime on a cross from right to left cross which Jim Duchesneau knocked home at 32:51.

Wells were the aggressors on offense as they held a 10-3 shot advantage (11-1 on goal) and 8-1 in corner kick tries early in the game.

The Hawks kept things close in the second half even though they were defended well and limited to one shot and two corners.  The Express continued to push and fired 11 shots in the second forty-five and attempted four more corners (12 on the day).

It was a goalie punt (Owen May) past midfield that Well's William Schanbacher controlled and snuck around Ryan Valentine for the final score of the day in the 81st minute.

Valentine made two big saves in the first half to keep Hilbert alive.  His first was a big save off an Express direct kick.  Both teams, Hilbert's defense and Wells offense unit, were lined up as if they were taking a combined team picture in front of the goal.  Somehow Valentine was able to redirect the ball and made a great save.  Then just four minutes later, Valentine swallowed a hard, point blank shot that resulted off one of the several corners Wells attempted.

Valentine finished the day with nine saves. 

Tyler Eister and Matthew Buehlmann were the only two Hawks credited with shots on goal and those attempts happened in the game's first seven minutes.

The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference portion of the Hawks schedule is here.  Hilbert (1-5) travels this weekend for a 1pm game at La Roche College.