LEWISBURG, PA – A goal from freshman Marc Russell (Glasgow, Scotland/Woodfarm HS) in the 23^rd minute was all Hartwick would need in a 1-0 shutout of Bucknell University on Wednesday night at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium in Lewisburg, PA. The victory for 'Wick snaps a two-game slide and puts the team in the win column for just the second time in six games.
           
The Hawks, who improve to 4-5-2 overall, earn their third shutout of the season and improve to 2-1-2 versus the Bison in the all-time series. Bucknell, which entered the game ranked 8^th in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Poll, drops to 5-4-3.
           
“This was a win we needed to get,” said Hartwick head coach John Scott following the game. “It's our first win on the road this season and it gives us some needed confidence heading into this weekend at West Virginia.”
           
Hartwick started the game well as it moved the ball and created chances in the Bucknell end. The Bison defense had difficulty with the duo of Russell and Cleyon Brown (Kingston, Jamaica/Berkshire School) up top.
           
“Cleyon and Marc worked very well together to start the game,” added Scott. “They played off each other and were causing their defenders fits.”
           
'Wick's pressure paid off at the 22:04 mark of the first half. A ball was played to Russell who had his back to the Bison goal roughly 30 yards away. He played it to the right corner flag and back Chris Walter (Snyder, NY/Nichols School) had to do everything in his power to save it from going out of bounds.
           
Walter's service swung into the box away from goal and senior Jason Keefe (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) used his body to shield the ball from a Bison defender allowing it to continue traveling to the top of the 18-yard box. Russell was there awaiting it and met the ball perfectly, hammering it low to the far post and past Bucknell goalkeeper Mike Lansing for his second tally of the season and a 1-0 lead.
           
“What an absolute sublime goal,” stated Scott. “It was a great build up but you have to credit Marc for just a great finish.”
           
Hartwick held a 3-1 edge in shots over the final 23 minutes of the half but the score remained 1-0 at the break. The Hawks and Bison were tied in the shots department, 6-6. 'Wick took all five of the game's corners of the half.
           
The second half was a different story as the hosts, down a goal, began to press forward. Bucknell took the first six shots of the second session over the opening 22 minutes. Hartwick goalkeeper Tom Buckner (Oxford, England/Henley College), however, was not called on to make a save in the span as all six never made it onto the Hartwick goal.
           
Keefe had a shot saved by reserve goalkeeper Clarke Fox and Brown had two shots go wide of the mark in the next 14 minutes for the Hawks. With less than seven minutes remaining on the clock, a header by Bucknell's Brendan Burgdorf nearly evened the score but it was cleared out of the goalmouth by a Hawks' defender. A rebound shot by Jesse Klug was put wide for the final chance for the hosts and 'Wick emerged with the victory.
           
“We really withstood a lot of pressure in the second half,” added Scott. “But we were organized in the midfield and at the back. Buckner was also strong commanding the box and coming off his line.”
           
The Bison outshot 'Wick 9-3 in the second half and 15-9 in the match. BU took all six corners in the second 45 minutes to finish with a 6-5 margin.
           
Buckner closed the game with three saves to earn the clean sheet. Lansing stopped two shots in picking up the loss in the Bucknell goal. Clarke had one saves over the final 45 minutes.
           
Hartwick next travels to Morgantown, WV on Sunday, October 14 for its third all-time meeting with the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Hawks are 2-0 in the series but this encounter will be the first in the MAC. The Mountaineers are currently second in the conference with a 2-0-1 record. Hartwick is fifth at 1-1. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.