ONEONTA, NY – It took longer than the Hawks had hoped, but the Hartwick men's soccer team has secured its first victory of the 2013 season. After several close calls and near misses, a Max Walcott (London, England/West Herts College) tally in the first minute of the second half held up as 'Wick blanked visiting Iona College 1-0 on Saturday at Elmore Field.

"All week in training we've prepared for this and I'm delighted for the team to earn this win," said head coach John Scott at the conclusion of the match. "Since last Sunday, in Dallas, winning this game is all we've talked about."

The Hawks were the deserved winners of the match as they created several chances and limited the Gaels to just a few opportunities to get on the scoreboard. It marked the team's first clean sheet of the season.

'Wick had three solid chances to break the ice within the first 30 minutes of action. Forward Marc Russell (Glasgow, Scotland/Woodfarm HS) had the first opportunity of the match inside of seven minutes. Following a misplay by the Gaels in the back, Russell crept in behind an Iona defender and got a foot to the ball with a low shot but keeper Julian Petrello got a piece of it to keep the ball out (Link).

Eleven minutes later, Jamie O'Grady (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk) had a thunderous hit go just wide. Following passes in the box from Dean Fowler (Sydney, Australia/Colo HS) and Tim Crawford (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas), the ball made its way to O'Grady outside the 18-yard box who sent his effort just wide of the target (Link).

Roughly eleven minutes later, Crawford had a chance of his own. A long throw from Jack Miller (Commack, NY/Commack HS) was headed on by Fowler in front. Crawford was there in the box but he could not get his foot to it six yards out (Link).

The Gaels had a couple of chances late in the half. Oscar Gonzalez spun a far-post shot wide of the Hartwick goal following a cross and Ignacio Maganto later forced a challenging save from 'Wick keeper Mateo Munarriz (Manizales, Colombia/Colegio Granadino).

The Hawks came out of the locker room gunning and were rewarded just 44 seconds in. A ball played into the Gaels' box was run onto by Walcott. An Iona defender attempted to clear but Walcott maneuvered in front of the ball which fell perfectly in front of him. He volleyed home past Petrello from six yards out for his second tally in consecutive games (Link).

The Hawks missed a golden opportunity to add to their total with under 39 minutes left. Just prior, Kit Tregear (Brighton, England / BHASVIC) blasted a shot that took a deflection and appeared to have been handled by a Gaels' defender. The Hawks' pleas were waved off by the official, but just 30 seconds later, another hand ball resulted in a Hartwick penalty kick. Miller stepped up for the kick and hit his shot to Petrello's right but the keeper guessed correctly and made a diving stop putting the ball out for a corner.

Chances were relatively limited for the remainder of the game. Iona had perhaps their best opportunity of the match with 20 minutes remaining. After 'Wick struggled to get the ball out of their own box, Samuel Adjei had a clear chance on goal with a shot from 12 yards away but he did not get a good foot on the shot and pushed it well wide of Munarriz and the Hartwick frame.

Both teams would finish the match with nine shots. Iona held a slim 6-4 edge in corners.

"Tregear and Will Broomfield (Brighton, England/Cloud Community College) were brilliant in the back today," remarked Scott. "As a back four and for Mateo it was very pleasing to get the shutout. We missed the penalty which could have made the game easier but I credit our team's character and resolve to see the game out."

The win for Hartwick avenges a 5-1 defeat in 2010 at the hands of Iona in New Rochelle. The game was the first for John Scott as head coach of the Hawks.

Munarriz would make just one save in the match for the shutout. Petrello stopped five Hartwick shots in the match.

'Wick will be away for its next match one week from today. The Hawks will travel to Burlington, VT to battle the UVM Catamounts next Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.