HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College  men's lacrosse team stayed in the hunt for the fourth and final play-off spot in the NEAC post season thanks to their 11-5 victory over Wells College this afternoon.

The Hawks roster depth and play for loose balls were the difference makers in the early afternoon game.

Hilbert won 17 of the game's 20 face-offs and held a 59-37 advantage in ground balls.  The Hawks outworked the Express with a 32-11 ground ball stat in the second half after playing even in the first 30 minutes (26-26).

Nathaniel Hyman and Matthew Simon led with five points each.  Hyman and Codie Thomas scored three goals apiece and Simon scored on one of his 15 shots this morning.  Hyman posted 10 ground balls, the first double-digit ground ball game in his career.  Thomas was very involved on offense with one assist (4 points) and four ground balls.

Adam Zawadzki made nine saves in just over 49 minutes of action before Joseph Stevenson closed the game with three saves against one goal.

Justin DeLaRosa won 15 of 18 face offs and become just one of 20 players (of 22) to earn at least one ground ball today.

The Hawks caused 12 turnovers led by Grant Stockman's three.

Wells got on the board first with a man-up goal at 11:43 in the opening period.  Hilbert doubled the score by the start of the second session taking a 2-1 lead with over five minutes left in the first quarter.

Both teams traded scores in the second quarter which gave Hilbert a 4-3 lead by intermission.

Hilbert turned the heat up in the third quarter, blanking the Express 4-0.  Both team matched efforts in the fourth, 2-2, but Hilbert's 20 field players outplayed Wells' 10.

Hilbert closes their season next week with two very important league games.  They will travel to #2 Cazenovia for a 4pm game April 26 before they complete the regular season April 29 with a 2pm Senior Day game against the league leaders, Morrisville.