Men's Soccer 10/2/2010 3:49:45 PM Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Hawks Prevail at NIU for First MAC Win

Men's Soccer 10/2/2010 3:49:45 PM Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Hawks Prevail at NIU for First MAC Win

             DEKALB, IL – Hartwick (2-7-1, 1-1 MAC) gutted out a 1-0 shutout over Northern Illinois (4-3-2, 0-1 MAC) on Saturday in Dekalb, IL for a huge road win. The Hawks' used an Owen Botting (Billingshurst, England/Heidelberg College) goalin the 63^rd minute and the 'Wick defense, led by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Lee Fenner (Altamont, NY/Clayton A. Bouton), held on to hand the Hawks their first Mid-American Conference win.
            “We responded well after Tuesday's disappointing loss to Buffalo,” said head coach John Scott. “We defended well as a group and we're extremely pleased with the result.”
            The Hawks received all the scoring they needed at the 62:30 mark of the game as Botting took a corner kick from the left flag. His in-swinging, left-footed drive swung right through the six-yard box and caught the side netting just inside the far-post to give Hartwick the lead. It was Botting's first tally of the 2010 season.
            The Hawks were out-shot in the match 28-8, but the Huskies rarely had any solid scoring chances thanks to the organized backline of the Blue and White. Scott also praised the efforts of Fenner, who was making the first start of his career.
            “Lee made several brave saves today,” added the Hartwick skipper. “His two stops right on top of each other with about 20 minutes left was a big lift for us.”
            In the 71^st minute of play, Fenner stymied NIU on two point-blank shots to keep the Hawks in front. He came out to smother a Johnny Tyma effort and after the ball squirted free, Fenner recovered and denied Tyma once again. He closed out the game with six stops to earn his first career clean sheet. In 135 minutes of action in the last two games, he has eight saves and zero goals against.
            Dan Summers (Banstead, England/Sutton Grammar) and Botting were the lone Hawks to register shots in the game. Summers took five shots and Botting fired another three at NIU's goal, including the game-winner.

The victory for the Hawks is the second straight over the Huskies. Hartwick is now 4-1 in five all-time matches with Northern Illinois.
The Hawks take a break from MAC Conference play and host a non-conference match with Adelphi next Saturday at 7 p.m.

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