Men's Soccer 10/31/2009 6:19:49 PM Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Men’s Soccer Ties Western Michigan in Final MAC Home Game

Men's Soccer 10/31/2009 6:19:49 PM Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Men’s Soccer Ties Western Michigan in Final MAC Home Game

           ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick ran its record to 8-2-4 overall and 3-0-2 in the Mid-American Conference with a 1-1 draw with Western Michigan on Saturday at Elmore Field. The tie ups the Hawks' unbeaten streak to 10 games (7-0-3). The squad has not lost a match since a Sept. 11^th setback to Bucknell in the Mayor's Cup.
          Jakob Karlgren (Gothenburg, Sweden/Katrinelunds) scored the tying goal for the Hawks in the 73^rd minute after Joel Del Toro gave the visitors the lead in the 43^rd. 'Wick dominated the latter stages of the match, out-shooting the Broncos 14-3 from the start of the second half to the final whistle.
          The Hawks, despite being outshot 7-3 in the opening half of play, had two solid scoring chances to break the deadlock. With 19 minutes left in the half, a long Owen Botting (Billingshurst, England/Heidelberg College) throw-in was nodded on by Hartwick senior Nick Pratico (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) right in front to Nick Roydhouse (Palmerston, New Zealand). Roydhouse did not get enough on his shot, however, and his effort was gobbled up by Bronco keeper Casey Aubil.

Twelve minutes later, Steven Amaya (Oakland Gardens, NY/Martin Luther King) shook off a few WMU defenders and broke in with Aubil but his shot was again smothered to keep the game level.
The Broncos got the opening goal with 2:57 showing on the clock. Luis Lemus slipped a pass on the left side to an unmarked Del Toro at the corner of the 18-yard box. The freshman took two touches and bent a far-post ball around Hartwick goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) and in for the go-ahead strike.

          The goal ignited the Hawks after the intermission as they controlled the action. 'Wick had two great chances with 26 minutes to play which were generated from another Botting throw-in. Once again, Pratico got his head on the end of it to push the ball towards the net. Roydhouse pounced on the ball but had his shot blocked and the ball went to Michael Cunningham (Dunedin, New Zealand/John McGlashan) who had a shot stuffed by Aubil.
          The Blue and White finally drew even with less than 18 minutes left as Karlgren scored his first career goal at Hartwick. A Botting throw into the box was settled by Cunningham who tried to take a shot on the WMU goal. The ball made its way to Karlgren five yards from the net who redirected past Aubil making the score 1-1.
          Cunningham had another chance with three minutes to go in regulation but his blast from eight yards away was miraculously kept out by another Aubil save.
          The Hawks, who were the aggressors in overtime holding a 6-1 edge in shots, were unlucky not to get the game-winning score. Senior Brian Gordon (Erskine, Scotland/Univ. of Albany) had 'Wick's best chance in the first 10-minute stanza with 7:45 left when his header ricocheted off the crossbar. In the second extra period, Evan Doan (Garland, TX/North Garland) scorched a shot wide of the post after 1:30, and with just over two minutes remaining, Amaya blasted a shot from 35 yards out that also caught the crossbar.
          Aubil made seven saves in the match. Vuolo stopped five. The Hawks closed the contest with 17 shots to the Broncos' 10. 'Wick also took all seven corners in the game.

The Hawks (3-0-2) have one remaining MAC game on their schedule against the top-ranked team in the nation, Akron (15-0-0, 5-0-0 MAC). Today's tie dashes any hopes of Hartwick earning the top seed and hosting the MAC Tournament in two weeks, which will take place in Akron, OH. However, the Hawks, along with the Zips, Broncos, and Northern Illinois, have each nailed down a spot in the MAC Semifinals.
The Hawks host their final match of the season on Tuesday against local rival Binghamton at 7 p.m.

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