ONEONTA, NY - Now in the seventh week of Empire 8 play, the Hartwick field hockey team and visiting Ithaca Bombers reached overtime at Wright Stadium in a contest carrying strong playoff implications. Both teams entered Saturday's match tied for fourth in the conference with two league games remaining on their respective schedules. With just under three minutes to go in extra time, freshman Maria Stalder (New Woodstock, NY/Cazenovia) netted the golden goal, her second of the game, to plant the score in the Hawks favor, 3-2. Junior Lex Richards (Northport, NY/Northport) assisted on the play.
           
'Wick's record advances to 10-3 (4-2 E8). The Bombers fall to 5-6 (3-3 E8). This is Hartwick's fourth consecutive victory and third straight in league action.
           
Ithaca got on the board first as Cassie Schuttrumpf found the back of the cage at exactly 15 minutes in. Meg Dowd controlled the ball and passed it to Schuttrumpf running down the middle 1-0. She scored to give the Bombers a 1-0 lead.
           
In the 21^st minute, senior Mikaelan Stuligross (Walton, NY/Walton) tallied to tie the score, 1-1, on a rebound. Senior Sarah Ryan (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) picked up the assist.
           
Just five minutes later, Hartwick claimed its first lead. Through a swarming Ithaca defense, Ryan earned another assist as she forced the ball to Stalder, who beat the keeper to grant her team control heading into the break.
           
In the second half, this time providing the help, Schuttrumpf stabilized the match once more, 2-2, with a successful dish to Colleen Keegan-Twombly in the 59^th minute. This would be the last goal in regulation.
           
Senior goalie Shannon Carter (Falls Church, VA/J.E.B. Stuart) saved 18 shots, tying her season-best. Opposing keeper, Katie Lass rejected three. 
           
Freshman Allyson Quirk (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) (2), Ryan (2), freshman Abby White (Binghamton, NY/Windsor Central) and Richards also recorded shots. 

With the result, the Hawks pull into a third-place tie with Washington & Jefferson in the Empire 8 standings. Hartwick has two games remaining on its schedule against Stevens and St. John Fisher as it seeks its first conference playoff berth since 2009.

Hartwick takes on a two-game road trip first seeing Oswego on Wednesday, October 19^th.