ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick (6-1-2) got all the scoring in the first half in a 3-0 shutout of Bryant University (1-8) on Saturday evening at Elmore Field during True Blue Weekend.
Marcus Nordgard (Copenhagen, Denmark/Oeregaard Gymnasium),
Mike Rood (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley), and
Marc Berry (Galashiels, Scotland/Galashiels Academy) scored goals within a 21:18 span as the Hawks cruised to their fourth straight victory.
'Wick, which is ranked eighth in the latest NSCAA Southeast Region poll, has not lost since its second game of the season. The team is 5-0-2 since. It marks the program's strongest start through its first nine games since the 2003 team started 8-1.
The Hawks opened the scoring 7:11 into the match. A
Jack Donaldson (Paisley, Scotland/Mars Hill University) corner was misplayed in the box by a Bulldog defender. Nordgard was there on the far post to head in his first goal in a Hartwick uniform for a 1-0 Hawk advantage.
Just over 15 minutes later, Berry fired a shot that Bryant goalkeeper Nick Stewart got a piece of but the shot continued to inch toward goal. Stewart dove and swatted the ball off the goal line which fell to Rood who buried his shot for his fourth tally of the season.
Less than six minutes after the Hawks' second goal, they added to their total. Berry fought through a Bulldog defender, got into the box, and made no mistake for his second goal of the campaign.
The Hawks would hold a decisive advantage in shots in the opening 45 minutes, 11-4. With the game in hand, the Bulldogs would apply pressure in the second half, but the Hawks would keep them at bay to secure the clean sheet.
Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy) and
Matt Morrish (Brighton, England/St. Bede's School) split time in the Hartwick goal. Wilson played the first half and made one save. Morrish stopped three shots in the second half. Stewart stopped eight shots for Bryant.
Hartwick opens up Sun Belt Conference play next Saturday, October 8 against league newcomer Coastal Carolina. Kickoff from Elmore is 2 p.m.
