HOBOKEN, NJ – Hartwick faced a tall task of getting a result against nationally thirteenth ranked Stevens on its own field on Saturday if it wanted to clinch a berth in the Empire 8 playoffs. The Hawks were tied with the Ducks in the second half, 2-2, but three unanswered goals would hand the hosts a 5-2 win.
           
The Hawks could have backed their way into a berth with a Houghton loss today against St. John Fisher but the Highlanders won 2-0 to claim the fourth and final playoff spot.
           
Ducks' leading scorer, Raba Nassif, put Stevens in front 12:20 into the match. It would mark the first of four goals on the day.
           
The Hawks evened things just 2:40 later as Rachel Weir (New Milford, CT/New Milford) scored on a rebound and the game remained 1-1 for nearly the next 30 minutes.
           
Nassif would give the Ducks a 2-1 advantage with only 3:46 remaining in the first half. She scored on a blast from outside of the Hartwick box.
           
'Wick started with a bang in the second half as it evened the match for the second time with just 2:01 elapsed after the kickoff. Freshman Rachel Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) scored her first collegiate goal as she headed in Kiley Richardson's (Flanders, NJ/Roxbury) free kick for a 2-2 game.
           
The tie game lasted for just two minutes, 20 seconds. Kristen Goncalves chipped Hartwick keeper Megan McGillycuddy (Glenville, NY/Scotia-Glenville) for a 3-2 edge for the Ducks, which they would not relinquish.
           
Nassif scored her third of the day 3:30 later to double the Ducks' lead, 4-2. She would close out the scoring at the 60:12 mark for the final 5-2 score line.
           
McGillycuddy made four saves for the Hawks today. Lindsey Mahnken and Evelyn Ting combined for five saves for Stevens.
           
Today marked the final game for seniors Kristen McKasty (Bohemia, NY/Connetquot), Abby Wheeler (Chatham, NY/Chatham), and juniors Cami Cleaveland (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta), and Allyson Daniels (Pembroke, NH/Pembroke Academy).
           
Hartwick finishes its season with a 10-5-2 record overall and a 3-3-2 conference mark. The team's 10 wins is the most since 1995. Their eight shutouts is the eighth-highest total in program history.