EDEN, N.Y. – The Thiel College men's lacrosse team earned a 13-6 non-conference win over the Hilbert Hawks Wednesday at Eden High School in Eden, N.Y. Thiel improved to 4-3 on the season with the win.
 
Thiel never trailed in the non-conference game after Sheldon Bourdeau (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston), Jeffrey Karnoff (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) and Andrew Monks (Butler, Pa./Butler) scored consecutive first-quarter goals.
 
John Smiley (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) led Thiel with five points on three goals and a pair of assists. JJ Raab (Butler, Pa./Butler) scored four goals while Karnoff (1G, 2A) and Kenny Hill (Inwood, N.Y./Lawrence) (1G, 2A) each contributed three points.
 
Jack Fontana (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted) won 16-of-23 faceoffs for the Tomcats, picked up 10 ground balls and assisted on a goal. Desmond Stuart (Roanoke, Va./Salem) tallied six ground balls and three caused turnovers while Mike Damico (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier) registered four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
 
Edward Mathias paced the Hawks with three goals.
 
Cole O'Connor (Midlothian, Va./James River) made 13 saves and earned the win for Thiel. Elijah Ryan made 18 saves for Hilbert.
 
Thiel will open Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play on Saturday, March 30 when they face the Grove City Wolverines on the road. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.