PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Matthew Simon collected four points to led the Hilbert College men's lacrosse team to a 10-8 season-opening victory over La Roche College this afternoon. 
 
The Hawks trailed only once in the game after they spotted the Redhawks the first goal of the day just six minutes into the first quarter.
 
Simon and Connor Harman scored back-to-back hits, just 25-seconds apart to take over the lead by 5:05 in the first quarter.  La Roche responded with another tally twenty-seconds later but Andrew Tirabassi and Nathaniel Hyman closed the quarter with two more strikes for a 4-2 lead.
 
James Duffy scored a pair of unassisted goals in the second period which allowed Hilbert to maintain the two-goal lead by half time.
 
La Roche appeared to be on a come-back after intermission as they forged a 7-6 score.  David DeCocq netted Hilbert's lone third quarter goal.
 
Then, just 35-seconds into the final period, Simon struck again which stretched the Hawks lead back to two.  Austin Laine padded the score (9-6) just one-hundred and thirty-six seconds into the fourth.  The Redhawks beat Hilbert's defense for a pair of goals, slicing the lead to just one (9-8) with 4:55 left to play. 
 
Hyman scored his second of the day, assisted by Simon with 1:32 on the clock for the 10-8 win.
 
Brenden Deady made 20 saves today, his third career 20+ save game, but his first team victory with so many saves.
 
Tirabassi, Hyman, Simon (2), Duffy and Marc O'Neill were credited with assists in the game.
 
Travis Hicks led with six ground balls and Garrett Rehner, Hyman and Chase Harmon each added two caused turnovers on defense.
 
La Roche outshot the Hawks 49-39.  Two Redhawks took 12+ shots while Hyman led the visitors with 11 shots.
 
Hilbert won only eight of 18 face-offs; Hicks went 2-2, Hyman was 3-7, Justin DeLaRosa was 2-5 and Brady Metcalf went 1-4.
 
The Hawks now travel down to Myrtle Beach for their spring training days in the warmer weather.  While there Hilbert will face Alfred University March 10 and then hit Greensboro College on their way back north on March 12.