Milliken Ties Single Season Scoring Mark In Loss To Hilbert

AURORA, N.Y. – Sophomore Connor Jansen (Horseheads, N.Y.) and freshman Alex Milliken (Hilton, N.Y.) each scored three goals as the Wells College men's lacrosse team dropped a 16-6 decision to the Hawks of Hilbert College on Thursday at the North Athletic Field. With the loss, the Express fall to 3-5 overall and to 0-5 within the North Eastern Athletic Conference. Hilbert improves to 6-3 overall and to 4-1 within league play.

On the season, Milliken has registered 35 goals and nine assists for 44 points (35-9=44), tying him for the highest single-season scoring total in team history through only eight games played. He ranks sixth all-time in career point scoring, trailing David Kaus '12 by only eight points for fifth place.

Hilbert jumped out to an 8-0 lead with only 8:19 left in the first half following an Elliott Russillio goal with the man advantage. Milliken struck with unassisted tallies at 7:47 and 6:06, respectively, to cut into the deficit but Hilbert scored back-to-back goals within the second quarter's final 1:16 to capture a 10-2 lead at the half.

Despite a Codie Thomas goal to open up the third frame, Jansen scored back-to-back goals to create a seven point deficit at 11-4 with 9:53 left in the quarter. Milliken scored his third goal of the game with 4:13 expired in the fourth quarter before Jansen struck with only 22 ticks left on the scoreboard, firing home a feed from senior Alex Manley (South Buffalo, N.Y.) with time dwindling down. Manley finished the game with two assists for the Express.

Wells backstop Tyler Bischoff (Allendale, N.J.) made 14 saves for the Express, drawing his fifth loss of the season. Brenden Deady allowed two goals in 30 minutes before yielding to Adam Zawadzki who allowed four goals on seven shots in the second half for Hilbert.

Tyler Nicoloff, Doug Takac and Andrew Ulbrich each scored five points for Hilbert. Nick Kieffer won 11-of-13 face-offs and also scooped up a team-best eight ground balls.

The Express return to action this Saturday, Apr. 19 as they face-off against the Wildcats of Cazenovia College in a 2:00 p.m. road contest.