ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick's field hockey team gave visiting Washington & Jefferson all it could handle in a spirited effort on Saturday at Wright Stadium. The Hawks scored to tie the game with under 24 seconds left in regulation and had chances for the game-winner in overtime. Instead, after nearly 29 minutes of overtime, the Presidents broke through to escape with a 2-1 win.
W&J held a 27-25 edge in shots in the back and forth contest. Hartwick (2-10, 0-4 E8) earned 20 penalty corners to the Presidents' 16.
Goalkeepers
Yanna Boggio (Amherst, NY/Amherst) and Morgan Brozena combined for 27 saves in the game. Boggio stopped 15 shots on the day for Hartwick, which was her second-highest total of the season. Brozena made 12 stops for the Presidents, who stay unbeaten in the Empire 8 (8-5, 4-0 E8).
In the first half, the visitors got on top 6:40 into the contest on a Lauren Brown goal. She finished off a rebound with Catherine Beaudoin earning an assist.
Despite giving up the opening goal, the Hawks would have the territorial advantage for the first half. They finished with pluses in shots (7-6) and corners (7-4).
The Hawks' chances in the half were developed from penalty corners.
Claudia Stone (Akron, NY/Akron) had a drive saved by Brozena off a corner with 21 minutes left.
Maxine Dunn (Peterborough, NH/ConVal) later had a shot blocked after a corner. A scrum in front of the W&J cage ensued but 'Wick couldn't get another shot off.
In the second half, Hartwick had another good chance after a
Mikaelan Stuligross (Walton, NY/Walton) corner.
McKenzie Bond (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) deflected a shot that was saved by Brozena. The ball popped straight up and bounced right in front of the Presidents' goal but they were able to keep it out.
Head coach
Anna Meyer called timeout with 7:05 left in regulation to organize the Hawks for the final run at tying the game. Following the break, the Presidents would pin 'Wick in its own end for much of the final seven minutes.
With less than a minute left, the Hawks got the ball deep into W&J territory. Stuligross would whack a cross across from the right side. The ball made it through to the far post, where Bond was there to tuck in the tying goal with 23.6 seconds left in the match.
The game opened up in the first extra session with both teams playing with seven players. W&J nearly won it halfway through the first overtime. A ball played into the circle was tipped by Brown, forcing Boggio to make a reactionary pad save to keep the game level. Dunn had the first good chance for the Hawks 10 minutes in as she walked in alone with Brozena, but her shot was saved.
Stuligross had another opportunity after a corner. She was stuffed by Brozena and the game went to double overtime.
Lex Richards (Northport, NY/Northport) had perhaps the Hawks' best chance of the second extra frame after two and a half minutes. She had a good look but flung her shot inches wide of the near post.
The Presidents held a 7-3 advantage in shots through 12 minutes in the second overtime but it looked as though strokes would be needed to decide the victor.
But a shot from Brown would force a save from Boggio and the ball popped out to her right. Brown gathered the ball up and passed back in to Beaudoin who fired a shot into traffic that got through Boggio for the game-winner with 1:20 showing on the clock.
The Hawks out-shot the Presidents 13-11 in the overtimes. 'Wick had a 9-1 edge in the first extra period alone.
Hartwick gets back to business tomorrow on the road. The Hawks travel to Elmira College for a 1 p.m. game.
