ONEONTA, NY –
Allie Ricci's (Millstone, NJ/Saint John Vianney) goal with just under 11 minutes remaining broke a tie score to lift Hartwick's women's soccer team to its first win over SUNY Oneonta since 1997. The 2-1 'Wick victory snaps an 18-game (0-17-1) winless streak against the Red Dragons. In addition, thanks to Nazareth's 2-0 victory over Houghton, the Hawks have clinched their first Empire 8 Tournament berth since 2002.
Hartwick, which has now won three straight contests, improves to 12-19-2 all-time against Oneonta with today's victory. The Hawks are now 9-4-3 overall on the season.
Ricci pounced on a defensive miscue in the box and buried her shot for her fifth goal of the season. It would also mark her fourth game-winning goal of the campaign.
The Hawks would grab the lead in the 24
th minute. A long service from
Sierra Bentley (Worcester, NY/Schenevus) found a wide open
Rachel Weir (New Milford, CT/New Milford), who would put the ball into the left corner to make it 1-0.
Hartwick held the advantage for over 45 minutes until Christina Cornfield evened the score in the 70
th minute. A cross into the box from Kelsie Moinzadeh found Cornfield unmarked. She headed home past
Megan McGillycuddy (Glenville, NY/Scotia-Glenville) for a 1-1 game.
The tie game was short-lived, however, as exactly 10 minutes later, Ricci provided the winner. The Red Dragons pressed for the tying goal, firing four more shots the rest of the way. Two forced saves from McGillycuddy, and one with 7:03 left, was headed off the line by
Casey Boucher (Northbridge, MA/Northbridge). But the Hawks would keep the Red Dragons out to claim the victory.
McGillycuddy would finish the match with eight saves for the Hawks. Emilie Mull stopped three shots for the Red Dragons, who concluded the day with a 17-7 edge in shots.
The Hawks have one game remaining in the regular season versus Elmira on Saturday. Hartwick has earned the fourth seed in the Empire 8 playoffs and will travel to top-seeded Stevens to play the Ducks in the semifinals on Friday, November 4. Game time is yet to be announced. Second-seeded Nazareth will play third seeded Ithaca in the other semifinal. The championship will take place November 5.
