ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick field hockey opened up its Empire 8 Conference season with a victory on Saturday thanks to a 5-1 victory over visiting Nazareth College in a game played at Wright Stadium.
Lex Richards (Northport, NY/Northport) led 'Wick with two goals.
Courtney Coons (Wilton, NY/South Glens Falls),
Bella Wheeler (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia), and
Sarah Ryan (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) also scored goals and
Maxine Dunn (Peterborough, NH/ConVal) added a pair of assists.
Hartwick (4-0) started strong with seven shots and three penalty corners inside the first eight minutes of play. But it was the Golden Flyers who broke the ice at the 14:45 mark on their first opportunity on goal. The visitors earned a corner and Jennifer Hilts smacked in her shot from the top of the circle for 1-0 Naz edge.
Wheeler answered just 2:17 later to even the match as she tipped in a Dunn pass in front. Coons would tip a shot past a charging Kimber Nourse in goal for a 2-1 Hartwick lead less than six minutes later.
Maria Stalder (New Woodstock, NY/Cazenovia) was credited with the assist on the play.
At 25:32, 'Wick was awarded a penalty stroke which Richards buried low to Nourse's right for a two-goal cushion and the Hawks would reach halftime up by a 3-1 margin.
In the second half, Ryan would finish in front of the cage after a Dunn cross with 18:41 left on the clock. Richards closed out the scoring with 11:56 remaining. A corner from
Emily Marcotte (Corinth, NY/Corinth) was settled by Richards, who drove a shot to the far corner for the 5-1 final score line.
The Hawks finished with a wide margin in shots, 26-4. The total included a 17-1 advantage in a dominant first half of play.
Shannon Carter (Falls Church, VA/J.E.B. Stuart) got the win in goal. She made one save in 58:05.
Jilian Sabatino (Boonton, NJ/Boonton) played the next eight minutes and made one stop and
Laura Downey (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem) played the final 3:52. Nourse ended the game with 15 saves for the Golden Flyers.
Hartwick takes its 4-0 season mark into Tuesday's non-conference clash with Morrisville State. The Hawks and Mustangs begin at 4 p.m.
