ONEONTA, NY - Hartwick led for over 73 minutes but two late goals in the final 10:11 gave #19 Stevens a 2-1 victory on Elmore Field Saturday. The game looked destined for overtime in closing minutes, but Kathleen Schuckers' goal with nine second left completed the Ducks' comeback. With the victory, Stevens improves to 14-2-1 overall and 5-2 in the Empire 8. The Hawks fall to 5-8-2 and close out the conference campaign at 2-4-2.
Hartwick played a spirited first half of play and jumped out to a 1-0 lead 6:31 into the match. Sophomore back Carly Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) began the play with a long throw-in that was knocked down by freshman Lysandra Tetreault (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) at the corner of the Stevens' 18-yard box. Junior back Julie Kessler (Canton, CT/Canton) gained the ball, spun, and volleyed a left-footer over the top of Duck goalie Kaitlin McClymont and into the far corner for the early edge.
The Hawks nearly took the lead less than a minute earlier as freshman Cristina Sicari (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) had a shot from inside the 18 stuffed by McClymont. 'Wick came close to adding to their lead off a corner kick with roughly 20 minutes left but Alexandra Luke's (Eagle Bridge, NY/Hoosick Falls) shot from in close went over the crossbar.
Stevens' best chance of the opening half came with just under 15 minutes left as Mary Chew got into the box after a cross but Hartwick keeper Alyssa Rondo (Saco, ME/Thorton Academy) came out to stifle the shot. Hartwick would finish the first half with an 8-4 edge in shots and a decisive 6-0 edge in corners.
The Ducks applied pressure on the 'Wick goal in the second half of play as they took 14 of 16 shots in the final 45 minutes. Brittany Odgers had a solid opportunity to even the score with 39 minutes to play as she one-timed a shot from inside the Hartwick box, but Rondo made one of her seven stops of the half to maintain the Hawk lead.
Stevens finally broke through in the 80th minute as Schuckers won the ball along the end line. She dribbled toward the Hartwick goal delivering a short pass along the ground to Chew whose shot from in close beat Rondo high to tie the game.
With under 15 seconds remaining, defender Becky Wos played a long ball from beyond midfield that bounced over the Hartwick back line and into the box. Schuckers played the ball out of the air and past Rondo for the game-winner.
The Ducks closed the match with an 18-10 advantage in shots while Hartwick earned seven corners to Stevens' one. Rondo made nine saves in the game. McClymont stopped five shots for the Ducks.
Hartwick returns to Elmore on Wednesday as it hosts RPI at 7 p.m. before wrapping up the regular season next Saturday against Hamilton at 1 p.m.
