On Saturday, April 11, the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays faced the Wilkes University Colonels in what became a dominant display of offensive power and defensive resilience. From the opening face-off to the final whistle, Etown controlled the pace of play and showcased both depth and discipline on both ends of the field.
Prior to the game, Etown took a moment to honor its seniors and recognize their commitment over the past four years. Those honored were Jay Rodriguez, Nick Prokic, Chance Milhorn, Alex Scholl, Mitchell Kushnerr, Peter Pitrelli, Jacob Mead, Max Marra, Steven Rice, Brent Wehland, Hunter Russell and Jack Gress. They have each played a role in shaping the program’s culture and success. The program expressed gratitude for their leadership and contributions while looking ahead to their future endeavors.
The game began with a decisive face-off, as Etown quickly secured possession when midfielder Pitrelli collected the ball. He moved the ball efficiently into the offensive zone, eventually finding first-year attacker Finn Kristan. Although Kristan’s first shot was turned away by the Wilkes goalkeeper, he remained composed and capitalized on a second opportunity moments later, giving the Blue Jays an early 1–0 lead.
Etown continued to build momentum throughout the first quarter, executing crisp passes and taking advantage of scoring opportunities. The Blue Jays added eight more goals in the period, overwhelming the Colonels’ defense. On the other end, Etown’s defense held firm, limiting Wilkes’ chances and preventing them from establishing any offensive rhythm. By the end of the quarter, the Blue Jays had built a commanding lead while keeping the Colonels scoreless.
The second quarter opened with a quick goal from Wilkes’ first-year attacker Anthony DiFrancesco, briefly breaking through Etown’s defense. However, that would be the extent of Wilkes’ success in the half. The Blue Jays quickly regained control, adding three more goals through coordinated offensive sets and maintaining strong defensive pressure. Heading into halftime with a 12–1 lead, Etown had firmly established control of the contest.
The third quarter followed a similar script, with Etown continuing to dictate play. The Colonels struggled to find space against a disciplined defensive unit, while the Blue Jays continued to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Midfielders Coleman and Rodriguez each netted two additional goals during the quarter, securing hat tricks and extending the lead to 18–1.
In the final quarter, Etown showed no signs of slowing down. The Blue Jays added five more goals in the opening minutes, demonstrating their depth as multiple players contributed offensively. Wilkes’ Stone Sosnovik managed to score one goal late in the game, but the Colonels were otherwise unable to generate consistent offense against Etown.
The Blue Jays closed out the game with a decisive 23–2 victory. Coleman, Rodriguez, Tom Gress and Reese Levinson each recorded hat tricks, highlighting the team’s balanced scoring attack. Overall, the performance reflected Etown’s ability to dominate in all phases of the game and maintain intensity from start to finish. The Blue Jays will play their final two games of the season both at home against Goucher College on Apr. 18 and against Moravian University on Apr. 22. Depending on those results, the Blue Jays will take part in the Landmark Conference playoffs the following week.
