Box Score

AKRON, OH – A header from Connor Fergason with 8:26 remaining in the game pushed second-seeded Western Michigan past third-seeded Hartwick 1-0 on Friday evening in the Mid-American Conference Semifinals at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field in Akron, OH. The loss for the Hawks ends their season with a record of 5-9-4.

The decisive goal came following a corner kick from Sam Bell. His service was floated into the Hartwick box and Furgason rose above everyone to get a strong header on the ball and send it toward the net. A Bronco attacker was right in front of the goal making it difficult for Hartwick keeper Mateo Munarriz (Manizales, Colombia/Colegio Granadino) and the ball got past him and crossed the line before a 'Wick defender could keep it out.

The Hawks frantically put numbers forward over the final eight and a half minutes in search of the tying goal. They won a corner with 4:10 remaining and Chris Walter's (Amherst, NY/Nichols School) service found Ross MacKinnon (Glasgow, Scotland/Woodfarm HS). His header, however, spun inches wide of the far post.

'Wick won free kick from about 35 yards away with 2:45 remaining. Walter lofted a cross into the WMU penalty area but keeper Chase Rau gobbled it up. Dean Fowler (Sydney, Australia/Colo HS) had the last shot of the game from long range with 15 seconds to play but it sailed high.

"The game was a tight affair and at halftime 1-1 would have been fair enough," said Hawk's coach John Scott. "Both teams were defending well though the second half and although we had more of the ball only a few fleeting chances were created. The longer it went it had the feel of overtime until the late goal settled the game."

Hartwick would out-shoot Western Michigan by a margin of 10-8 in the match, including a 6-3 advantage in the second half, but all were off-target. The Broncos held a 6-3 edge in corners.

In the first half, the Hawks went into the wind but were able to maintain a good amount of the possession. The took the first two shots of the match – one from Broomfield in the 38^th minute and another from Nick Hills (Garden Suberb, Australia/Colo HS) in the 27^th– but both efforts were blocked by Bronco defenders.

Western Michigan had the best opportunity of the opening 20 minutes after the Hawks gave the ball away in their defensive end. Following a few passes from the Broncos, Sam Bell had a great look inside the box but he was robbed by Munarriz who pushed the ball away. The rebound would fall to Edu Jimenz but his shot flew high.

David Styles (Bognor Regis, England/St. Phillip Howard) and Jamie O'Grady (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk) each had shots in a three-minute span for the Hawks later on in the half. Styles couldn't get a good foot on the left side from a cross from the right. O'Grady sent a long-range effort in that looked like it had a shot to trouble Rau but it floated over the bar.

Both teams had solid chances with under three minutes remaining in the half. After some great ball work from the Hawks' in the Broncos' end, back MacKinnon put a pass deep on the left side for Styles who served a left-footed cross for Will Broomfield (Brighton, England/Cloud Community College) who was positioned on the six. Broomfield, however, didn't get all of the ball on his header and it never made it toward goal.

WMU had the final scoring chance of the half with 45 seconds left when reserve Dom Hunter was turned away by Munarriz from in tight. The Broncos would hold a slim 5-4 edge in shots and took all four corners at the break.

In the opening 23 minutes of the second half each team had only one decent chance. Matheau Rogers had a low shot from the top of 18 which wasn't troubling for Munarriz in the 60^th minute. Will Broomfield (Brighton, England/Cloud Community College) turned and screamed a shot just high and wide from the top of the WMU box in the 64^th minute.

After some tense moments in the Hartwick box with 16 minutes remaining, the Hawks got to the other end and nearly scored following a cross from Styles. Two opposing players went up for the head ball but it got past them allowing O'Grady to run onto it. He hammered his shot from the right side but it was driven high.

Hartwick would register a corner but could not produce anything from it. Just over two minutes later, Bell's service to Furgason would summon what would prove to be the game-winner.

Munarriz would finish with the two saves which came in the first half. Rau was not forced to make a save for WMU.

The Hawks were making their first conference playoff appearance since 2009 today. They slip to 2-3-2 all-time in MAC postseason games. It also marked the second time this season, 'Wick was edged by the Broncos by a 1-0 score line.

The match serves as the final one for seniors Broomfield, Matthew Robertson (Banchory, Scotland/Binghamton U), and Tim Crawford (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas).

"It's always an unsettling feeling when the season ends, but our team has made progress this year," Scott stated. "Last spring we developed really well during the off-season and we'll look forward to getting better again this spring. We do return a talented group so there's lots to look forward to moving ahead."

At the conclusion of the tournament, Robertson and O'Grady were selected to the MAC All-Tournament Team for their efforts.