Men's Soccer 11/13/2009 6:37:18 PM Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Hawks Net Three Second-Half Goals to Move Into MAC Championship

Men's Soccer 11/13/2009 6:37:18 PM Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Hawks Net Three Second-Half Goals to Move Into MAC Championship

         AKRON, OH - It wasn't easy, but the Hartwick College men's soccer team advanced to its first Mid-American Conference Championship game with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Western Michigan in the MAC semifinals Friday at Lee Jackson Field in Akron, OH. Hartwick (10-3-4) trailed 1-0 at halftime before scoring three times in the second half to down the Broncos. The win marks the third straight year the Hawks have eliminated WMU from the MAC playoffs.
          Junior Steven Amaya (Oakland Gardens, NY/Martin Luther King) had a hand in all three Hartwick tallies, scoring the Hawks' first and assisting on the other two. Sophomore Nick Roydhouse (Palmerston, New Zealand, Palmerston N.) dished out two assists for the Hawks. WMU's Yllson Asani (Saline, MI/Saline) and Saeed Sulemana Baba (Tamale, Ghana) picked up the goals for WMU.
          The Hawks held advantages in shots (20-13) and corners (7-6) in the contest. Despite outshooting the Broncos 9-3 in the opening half of play, it was Western Michigan that broke the scoreless deadlock 10:23 into the contest as top scorers Sulemana Baba and Kai Mendes (Grand Rapids, MI/Rockford) connected for the go-ahead strike. Mendes crossed the ball into the box from the left side which Sulemana Baba headed in from six yards out past Hartwick keeper Jeremy Vuolo (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown W.).
          The Hawks recorded six shots over the remaining 35 minutes of the half, but only one was on target with Dan Summers (Banstead, England/Sutton Grammar) forcing a save from Bronco goalkeeper Casey Aubil (Middleville, MI/Thornapple Kellogg). The first half ended with the Hawks trailing by a goal and WMU 45 minutes away from its first win over 'Wick in six tries all-time and reservations for the MAC final on Sunday.
          Hartwick quickly dashed the deficit 14 ticks into the second half as Amaya netted his second goal of the season. A service from Roydhouse at the right side of the box found Amaya 17 yards from goal and he put the ball past Aubil for a 1-1 game.
          Scoring chances were everywhere over the next 25 minutes with both teams getting quality opportunities on goal. WMU would pepper the Hartwick net taking five of the game's next six shots in a 15-minute span, none of which able to beat Vuolo, who earlier in the day earned MAC First Team honors. For the Hawks, senior Sam Wright (Newquay, England/Bryant & Stratton) lifted a shot inside the box up and over the crossbar, and shortly after, junior Jumol Harewood (Brooklyn, NY/Bryant & Stratton) slipped past a defender at the top of the box, but his shot was stopped by Aubil.
          With less than 20 minutes to play, Hartwick secured the lead for the first time with Summers putting the finishing touches on his fifth tally of the year. Roydhouse started the play on the left side. He played the ball across to Amaya who sent a shot towards goal. Summers redirected it in from eight yards away and 'Wick was finally in front 2-1.
          The lead was short-lived, however, as the Broncos converted the tying goal just 7:27 after Summer's go-ahead strike. Darren Jones (Victoria, BC/Claremont Secondary) sent one of WMU's four corner kicks of the half into the penalty area where Vuolo, who had come off his line on the play, got a piece of the ball. It fell in front to Asani who put it away for his second of the year to even the game at 2-2.
          Hartwick responded only 18 seconds later as a Bronco foul just outside the 18-yard box set up what would prove to be a perfect restart for the Hawks. Owen Botting (Billingshurst, England/Heidleberg College) touched the ball to Amaya, who instead of stopping the ball for the oncoming strike of Wright, played the ball back to Botting. The junior back had a clear shot at the goal from 20 yards away and he buried his shot low to Aubil's left for the eventual game-winner. It was Botting's first tally of the year.
          The Broncos managed two corners in the final three minutes as they searched for the tying goal, but their only shot, a header from Sulemana Baba, was corralled by Vuolo to preserve the victory.
          Vuolo ended the game matching a season-best six saves. Aubil ended the contest with five stops.
          Western Michigan ends its season with a 6-10-1 record. The Hawks advance to Sunday's MAC title game at 4 p.m. against the winner of the Akron-Northern Illinois semifinal this evening.

Print Friendly Version