ALBANY, NY – Hartwick men's soccer secured a tough 2-1 road victory over the University at Albany on Saturday evening at UA's Varsity Field in the opening game of the season for both squads.
            The Hawks, who played the final 82 minutes of the game down a player, jumped out to a two-goal lead less than 21 minutes into the game and held the Great Danes off the scoreboard until the waning minutes of the game.
            “The boys just showed an unbelievable resolve to get the victory tonight,” said an elated head coach John Scott following the game. “To play the final 82 minutes down a man and on the road and get the result says a lot about the character of this team. It was a total team effort out there today and I'm elated for our guys.”
            Hartwick (1-0) took a quick lead thanks to a goal from junior Cleyon Brown (Kingston, Jamaica/Berkshire School) in the 4^th minute of play. After a ball was played into the Albany penalty area, the Great Danes failed to clear the ball which allowed Brown to volley in his first Hartwick goal from roughly eight yards out.       
            The excitement of the early goal, however, quickly evaporated three minutes later after a red card was issued to junior back Matthew Robertson (Banchory, Scotland/Binghamton Univ.) for a foul just outside the Hartwick 18-yard box. As a result, the Hawks were forced to play the remainder of the game down one player.
            Before the Danes had any chance to gain momentum following the send-off, junior Tyler Bailey (Spencer, NY/Binghamton Univ.) lifted Hartwick to a two-goal lead with a tally in the 21^st minute. Bailey took the ball on the sideline in Albany's half of the field and began cutting across the field. Roughly 25 yards out, he unleashed a blast that bent away from UA goalie Adrian Foncette and into the far corner for a 2-0 'Wick edge. It also marked Bailey's first career goal at 'Wick.
            Neither team mustered a shot in the final 24 minutes of the first half, and the Hawks entered halftime with the two-goal advantage.
            Scoring chances were limited over the first 35 minutes of the second half. Albany took three of the opening four shots, but Hartwick goalkeeper Tom Buckner (Oxford, England/Henley College) was called upon to make just one save.
            Albany broke up the Hawks' shutout bid with 8:16 remaining in the game with a goal from Jeff Pierre. The Hawks couldn't clear the ball out of their own box and Pierre pounced on it with a shot to the far post that eluded Buckner.
            Despite the Albany goal, the Hawks' defense held up in the final eight minutes to preserve the win as they did not allow another Dane shot.
            Albany held a slim 6-4 edge in shots for the game. The Hawks made the most of their opportunities, tallying on their only two shots on goal in the contest.
            Buckner finished with just a save in his first victory in goal. Foncette failed to make a save in the loss for Albany.           
            The victory for Hartwick avenges a 1-0 loss to Albany last fall on Elmore Field. It also boosts the Hawks' record against UA to 8-1-1 since their first meeting in 1977.
            Hartwick next plays at Colgate University on Wednesday, August 31 at 7 p.m.