SCHENECTADY, NY – Hartwick field hockey won its sixth game in a row on Tuesday with a 2-1 overtime victory over Union College in Schenectady. Freshman Kelsey Kimble (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) scored off an assist from junior Jen Kaye (Altamont, NY/Guilderland) less than two minutes into the first overtime period off a penalty corner for the clincher. The goal is Kimble's fourth game-winner of the year and it marks the fifth straight match she has recorded at least two points. The 9-3 Hawks are on a roll heading into Saturday's meeting with Stevens in a game between Empire 8 unbeatens.
After Union had battled back towards the end of regulation to tie the match and send it to overtime, Kimble took a pass from the right side of the net from Kaye and fired home from five yards out after 110 seconds of the extra period. The assist was Kaye's second straight on a game-winning goal for the Hawks.
The teams had a scoreless first half, as both goaltenders were strong in net. The teams combined for 15 shots and 10 reached the cages in the first 35 minutes. Hartwick goalie Mackenzie Chapman (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) made four saves in the period while Union's Sarah Rios stopped six shots. At 20:42, Hartwick's Amanda Barton (Endwell, NY/Greene) was awarded a penalty stroke, but her high shot over the head of Rios ricocheted off the crossbar and bounced away.
Hartwick opened the scoring in the second half at 45:06. Kaye scored her sixth of the season when she blasted in a rebound off a shot by Samantha Galm (Kingston, NY/Kingston) from a penalty corner. The lead held up for nearly 20 minutes before Union evened the score.
The Dutchwomen tied it with just five minutes remaining in regulation when Isabel Zellweger tipped in a high drive from Kelsey Powers.
Union held a 16-15 shot advantage, including 10-3 in the second half, but the Hawks had all three of the overtime shots. Chapman, the reigning Empire 8 Goalie of the Week, made 11 saves for the game and Rios stopped 10, including two in overtime. Hartwick, which had a 7-1 edge in corners in the first half, would up with a 12-10 advantage in corners.
The Hawks take their six-match unbeaten streak into Saturday as they host defending conference champ Stevens at 1 p.m. at Wright Stadium. Both teams are 3-0 with three games left and the winner would be in the driver's seat for the top seed and the right to host the Empire Tournament in early November.
