ONEONTA, NY- Caitlyn Criscuolo scored twice for the visiting Elmira Soaring Eagles as they defeated the 'Wick women's soccer team 2-1 on Elmore Field on Wednesday night. With the win, Elmira improves its record to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Empire 8 while Hartwick falls to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the Empire 8.
The Hawks had a rough first half as Elmira dominated possession with 10 shots to Hartwick's four. Hartwick had an early opportunity to take the lead in the 41st minute when Blaire Hooper (Waitsfield, VT/Green Mountain Valley) had a breakaway to the goal but was denied by Soaring Eagle goaltender Karissa Wilson. Crisculo also got in a good shot on goal but was thwarted by Hartwick's Teagan Waddingham (Coeymans Hollow, NY/Ravena-Coeymans Selkirk). She would however score just 35 seconds later to give Elmira the lead.
In the second half, the Hawks had a couple of scoring chances but could not capitalize. Hooper's pass just missed an open Sayde Whitman (Eagle Bridge, NY/Hoosick Falls) in the 56th minute and a few minutes later, another Hooper pass would find Katie Schild (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott), but her header shot was just high of the goal.
Criscuolo would score her second goal of the game in the 70th minute to give Elmira a 2-0 lead.
The Hawks would fight back and finally get on the board when Mackenzie Shipley's (Sedro Wooley, WA/Sedro Wooley) short pass would go to Schild, who cut through the Soaring Eagle defense and deposited the ball into the left corner of the goal for the score and get 'Wick to within one.
Schild would have two chances to tie the game with just over 13 minutes remaining but her first shot hit the right post and the subsequent rebound was stopped by Wilson.
Hartwick would get off four more shots the rest of the half but could not score as Elmira would hold on for the victory.
Waddingham got the start in goal and had four saves. She was replaced by Hope Brown (Sherburne, NY/Sherburne-Earlville) in the second half and she would get two saves. Wilson made six saves for Elmira.
Elmira led in total shots 17-14. Despite being outshot in the first half, Hartwick would outshoot the Soaring Eagles 10-6 in the second half.
The Hawks will next host #14 Ithaca this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. on Elmore Field.
