ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick men's soccer fought back from a 1-0 deficit to tie the score late in the second half and secured a 1-1 tie at Fairfield University on Friday night at Lessing Field in Fairfield, CT in the season opening game for both teams. Senior captain Will Broomfield (Brighton, England/Cloud Community College) netted the equalizer with just over 11 minutes left for the Hawks who were unlucky to not get the game-winner. They outshot the Stags 9-4 over the second half and overtime periods.

"We showed great character and fitness against a very competent team tonight," Hartwick head Coach John Scott said following the match. "It's a good start to the season."

'Wick was unlucky to come out of the first half down a goal after a balanced 45 minutes. Fairfield's Jake Zuniga gave his team the lead just 1:26 before the halftime whistle off a corner kick.

The Hawks wouldn't give up in the second half as they sought the tying goal. 'Wick would hold its hosts without a shot over nearly the final 30 minutes of the second session. The Hawks were finally rewarded in the 79^th minute. Sophomore David Styles (Bognor Regis, England/St. Phillip Howard) sent a perfect cross into the box where Broomfield's powerful header from six yards out beat Stag goalie Joe Martin to pull even.

Hartwick didn't let up, pressing for the game-winner in the final 11 minutes. Midfielders Rio Dhat (Auckland, New Zealand/Epping Boys' HS) and Chris Walter (Amherst, NY/Nichols School) each had opportunities on goal. Dhat had a shot saved by Martin in the 82^nd minute and Walter had the same result in the final 30 seconds as the two teams entered extra time.

Both teams had chances to end the match in overtime. Fairfield put a pair of shots high in the opening 10 minutes with forward Marc Russell (Glasgow, Scotland/Woodfarm HS) hitting one wide of the target for the Hawks.

Hartwick outshot the Stags 3-0 in the second overtime but couldn't capitalize. Tim Crawford (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas HS) fired a pair of shots off the mark and freshman Mike Rood (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley HS) hit a shot wide of the Fairfield goal with a minute and a half left.

The Hawks finished with a 12-11 advantage in shots in the game. The Stags had a 9-3 edge in corners. Hartwick starting goalkeeper Mateo Munarriz (Manizales, Colombia/Colegio Granadino) stopped five shots in the match. Martin made three stops for Fairfield.

Hartwick returns to action on Monday at Syracuse University. The Orange is currently ranked 17^th in the Soccer America Preseason Poll and 20^th in the NSCAA Poll.