Box Score ELMIRA, NY-
Kelsey Kimble (Dingman's Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) scored 3:34 into the first overtime period to give the Hartwick field hockey team a 3-2 victory over Elmira on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks are now 4-3 overall and 2-0 in the Empire 8 conference while the Soaring Eagles fall to 1-4 and 0-2 in the Empire 8.
Elmira scored first just over ten minutes into the game. Ashley Palmer took a pass on the left side of the goal from Sarah Watts and finished the strike past Hartwick goalkeeper
Megan Campbell (Rutland, MA/Wachusett Regional), giving Elmira the 1-0 lead. Hartwick was able to put seven of its 10 shots on goal and also took 10 penalty corners, but goalie Lauren Thomas and the Soaring Eagle defense was able to keep the Hawks off the board the entire half.
In the second half, Hartwick started the scoring off with a goal in the 61st minute of play when
Cassie Jonaitis (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) followed up a rebound off the post and finished with a shot past Thomas. Elmira came right back down the field just four minutes later to retake the lead when McKenna Light took a pass off the corner hit from Erin Duffy and ripped a shot from a step inside the circle right at the goal. The shot bounced right over Campbell's outstretched leg and into the back of the goal, making the score 2-1.
The Hawks continued their attacking style of play to try to tie the game and were successful with just over two minutes left in regulation.
Megan Lefeber (Riverton, CT/Northwestern) scored when she redirected a shot taken by Jonaitis past Thomas. The Hawks had two chances to win the game in regulation but both shots were stopped by Thomas and the game headed to overtime.
With 6:26 left in the first overtime, Kimble carried the ball down the right side of the field and fired a hard shot past Thomas to end the game and give the Hawks the victory.
Hartwick outshot Elmira 28-5 and also held a decisive advantage in penalty corners, 26-3. Campbell stopped two shots for the Hawks in goal. Thomas had 19 saves for the Soaring Eagles.
Hartwick will host Ithaca in an Empire 8 contest this Wednesday at Wright Stadium. The game will start at 4 p.m.
