ATLANTA, GA – Hartwick men's soccer fought back from a one-goal deficit to secure a big win on the road Saturday night within the Sun Belt Conference. A Georgia State own goal tied the match in the 19^th minute and senior Jhevaughn Beckford (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer's Boys') got the game-winner in the 69^th as the Hawks defeated the Panthers 2-1.
           
With the victory, Hartwick is now in sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt tables. The Hawks have one game remaining on the league schedule, a November 8 meeting with Howard on Elmore Field.
             
"I'm just thrilled for the boys getting this win on the road," said victorious Hartwick head coach John Scott. "It was a tremendous team effort. The energy levels we expelled tonight were impressive from every player."
           
The Hawks got the first chance of the game after 4:13. Defender Jack Miller (Commack, NY/Commack) received the ball wide right at the edge of the box. Miller beat a defender 1v1 and got a shot off on target, but it was saved by Panther keeper CJ Cochran.
           
The Panthers answered two and a half minutes later, tallying on their first chance of the night. A long ball played forward was misjudged by a Hartwick defender allowing Rashid Alarape the chance to run through centrally on Hartwick goalkeeper Tom Buckner (Oxford, England/Henley College) unopposed. Alarpe made no mistake, burying his chance for the 1-0 Panther lead.
           
The Hawks forced the equalizer nearly 12 minutes later. A ball played from back Jamie O'Grady (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk) in the center of the park was played diagonally in behind the Panther back three for a run for Marc Russell (Glasgow, Scotland/Woodfarm). From deep on the end line on the right, Russell fired over a ferocious cross which was headed into his own net by Georgia State's defender Everick Little.
           
Hartwick had scoring chances in the early going of the second half with David Styles' (Bognor Regis, England/St. Phillip Howard) and Russell each firing shots at goal but it took until the 68:08 mark for the Hawks to surge ahead.
           
Chris Walter (Amherst, NY/Nichols School) had the ball on the left corner edge of the box. He shielded the ball from pressure and coming inside, created enough space to send a rifled shot across the goalkeeper to the back post. The ball deflected off the post and Beckford sorted out his feet quickly to score before the Panthers could react and the Hawks were in front.  
           
'Wick continued to go forward with the lead. In the 77^th minute, a long ball from Kit Tregear (Brighton, England/BHASVIC) to Walter got the Hawks wide right level with the edge of the Panther box.  As the defense dropped in ready to defend, Walter played a square pass to Nick Hills (Garden Suberb, Australia/U. of Newcastle). He took a touch and shot but it was deflected on its way to goal and saved by Cochran.
           
Two minutes later, Ross MacKinnon (Glasgow, Scotland/Jordanhill School) found Walter on the left channel. Walter got the ball onto his right foot against pressure and sent a cross to the back post. Beckford rose and connected well with the header, but it was saved by Cochran.
           
The Panthers managed two shots the rest of the way. Eddie Wilding sent a shot wide of target with 3:10 left in the match and Jake Bingham's header forced an easy save from Buckner at 88:48 to preserve the Hartwick win.
           
The Hawks edged the Panthers in shots for the game, 11-10. Buckner closed the night with a total of two saves. Cochran finished with three.
           
'Wick has seven points in the standings and leads second-place Georgia Southern and NJIT by a point. The Eagles and Highlanders meet next weekend.
           
Hartwick will travel to the University of Maryland for a Tuesday night game against the Terrapins.