Men's Soccer 11/14/2013 4:07:00 AM Chris Gondek, Asst. AD for Athletic Communications

Stage Set For Hawks' MAC Semifinal With WMU Friday

Men's Soccer 11/14/2013 4:07:00 AM Chris Gondek, Asst. AD for Athletic Communications

Stage Set For Hawks' MAC Semifinal With WMU Friday

Hartwick Takes on Western Michigan Friday at 4 p.m.

2013 Mid-American Conference Tournament
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field
Akron, OH
Semifinal Round
Friday, November 15

#3 Hartwick vs. #2 Western Michigan - 4 p.m.

Live Stats
Video
Full Game Notes

BACK IN THE MAC: After a three-year hiatus, Hartwick returns to the MAC playoffs after clinching the #3 seed with a 3-2-1 regular season record. In three previous appearances from 2007-2009, the Hawks are 2-2-2 in six games in the league playoffs. A Hartwick victory puts it into Sunday's championship against Akron or West Virginia at 1 p.m.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: 'Wick started the conference season off with a bang upsetting #9 Akron on its own field, 2-0, and defeating West Virginia 1-0 on Elmore Field. The Hawks dropped their next two, 2-1 at Buffalo, and 1-0 at home to Western Michigan to slip to 2-2. 'Wick went on the road to earn a 1-1 draw at Bowling Green to set the stage for its conference finale at Elmore against Northern Illinois. After falling behind 1-0, Jhevaughn Beckford tied the score in the second half and Max Walcott's volley in the second overtime clinched the Hawks' spot in the last four.

THE COACH: Fourth-year head coach John Scott has piloted the Hawks to the playoffs in his fourth season at the helm. Hartwick's 3-2-1 finish in 2013 is tied for the most regular season wins in the league since the Hawks joined the MAC seven years ago. The mark is also tied for fifth highest in any conference regular season for the program in 14 years of competition.

SCOTT'S TAKE: "We're very happy to have earned our playoff berth this year and we'll be giving it our best against Western Michigan Friday. Traveling out to Akron gives us the opportunity to play on a superb playing surface and that in itself will have our team looking forward to the game. I'm delighted that our three seniors have this opportunity with their college careers starting to wind down, and I'm sure they will be playing to keep things going for as long as possible."

MAC PRESEASON POLL REVISTED:
1. Akron (6 first place votes)
2. West Virginia (1)
3. Northern Illinois
4. Bowling Green
5. Buffalo
6. Western Michigan
7. Hartwick

The Hartwick Hawks were picked to finish dead last in the MAC Preseason Poll in late August. 'Wick got the last laugh, however, as it defeated the poll's top two teams in its first two games of the campaign and jumped four spots to finish 3rd in the final standings. The Hawks' opponent in the opening round, Western Michigan, equaled the feat rising four spots to take 2nd place in the tables.

AGAINST THE ZIPS: The Hawks are 2-1 against the playoff field this season. Hartwick shocked #9 Akron at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field on October 5 by a score of 2-0. After a scoreless first half, a throw-in by sophomore back Jack Miller in the 65th minute was headed up and over Zips goalkeeper Fernando Pina to the far corner by freshman back Kit Tregear for his first tally in a Hartwick jersey. Akron pressed forward for the tying goal, by a counterattack for the Hawks resulted in a 2-v-1 from midfield. Sophomore Marc Russell raced up the right side for forty yards before slipping a pass across the middle to Chris Walter for the two-goal cushion in the 86th minute. Goalkeeper Mateo Munarriz, who was later named the MAC Player of the Week, the TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week, to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, and to the TDS National Team of the Week earned a career-high 13-save shutout.

AGAINST THE MOUNTAINEERS: On Hartwick's True Blue Weekend, sophomore Dean Fowler's first career goal in the fifteenth minute held up as Hartwick stayed unbeaten in conference play with a 1-0 shutout of West Virginia on October 11. Fowler's goal came on the first real chance of the match for either team. Max Walcott started the play as he bolted down the right sideline, got deep into WVU territory, and served a low cross into the Mountaineer box. Will Broomfield met the ball and got a touch, continuing it for Fowler, who was unmarked. His shot took a deflection but eluded WVU keeper Lee Johnston for the 1-0 Hartwick lead at 14:53. Munarriz would not be called upon to make a save despite 14 Mountaineer shots in the match.

AGAINST THE BRONCOS: A goal scored by Marco Lobo in front following a cross at 40:22 of the first half held up as visiting Western Michigan defeated Hartwick 1-0 on October 19. Hartwick outshot the visitors 8-3 in the second half as it frantically pressed for the tying goal but Lobo's effort ended up being the only tally of the day. The Broncos broke through with 4:38 remaining in the half. A Bronco breakaway was snuffed out by a sliding effort by Hartwick defender Matthew Robertson but WMU maintained possession deep in 'Wick territory. On the left side, Matheau Rogers served a low cross in through heavy traffic which Munarriz could not corral. Lobo was there to clean up the rebound as he slid and slammed it into the upper part of the Hartwick goal from seven yards away.

'WICK LEADERS: Hartwick has spread the wealth offensively this season with ten different players registering at least one goal. Only four - Will Broomfield (4), Max Walcott (3), Chris Walter (2), and Jhevaughn Beckford (2) - have more than one tally. Broomfield is the team leader in both goals scored and points (10) and Marc Russell has a team-best five assists. Mateo Munarriz has played in every minute in goal this season, almost 1700 minutes, with a goals against average of 1.04 with four shutouts.

IN THE RANKINGS: In the latest MAC stat rankings, Broomfield ranks ninth in both points per game (0.67) and goals per game (0.27). Russell is tied for fourth in assists per game (0.29) and Walcott is tied for fifth in game-winning goals per outing (0.13). Munarriz ranks third in goals against average, fourth in shutouts per contest (0.24), and fifth in both save percentage (.725) and saves per game (2.94).

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