Women's Tennis | 10/10/2015 8:11:00 PM

ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick Hawks (8-4, 5-3) finished their season with a narrow loss to visiting Nazareth College in an Empire 8 showdown. Hartwick was edged by the Golden Flyers 7-2 to cap the 2015 regular season. With the loss, the Hawks finish 5-3 in Empire 8 competition and have secured the fourth seed in the Empire 8 tournament on the October 17. 
           
The Hawks fell behind on the afternoon after dropping all three doubles matches. Heidi Rice (Canandaigua, NY/Marcus-Whitman) and Rose Natoli (Endwell, NY/Endwell) were outlasted at first doubles losing 9-7. Kelly Napolitano (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) and Anna Van Allsburg (Prides Crossing, MA/Spring Ridge Academy) were also edged at second doubles losing in a tiebreaker 9-8 (8-6). 
           
The afternoon was highlighted by a dominating performance at first singles by Rice over Jeanie McCarthy 6-0, 6-2. Napolitano finished the season 9-2 and 6-2 in Empire 8 competition after defeating Ami Petosa 6-4, 6-3 at third singles. 
           
The 8-4 mark for the Hawks is the best season winning percentage for the program (.667) since 1995 when the team went 11-4 (.733).
           
Hartwick returns to play in the Empire 8 Conference semifinal on Saturday at Nazareth College. The Hawks play top-seeded Ithaca beginning at noon.