SCHENECTADY, NY – Bella Wheeler (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia) powered Hartwick field hockey's offense scoring a pair of goals in a nonconference clash at Union College at Frank Bailey Field Tuesday evening. Wheeler's two tallies opened scoring and evened the contest late but a goal by the Dutchwomen with less than five minutes left to play would cast the host the 3-2 victory and move them to 4-4 on the year. The Hawks fall to a mere 7-4.
 
In the game's early going, Wheeler locked in on her team's initial misfire as she rebounded the ball with help from Jenna Sobol (Amherst, NY/Amherst Central) and forced it back in for the 1-0 advantage at 2:37.
 
Union's Jenna Smith had a hand in her team's next two goals, first providing the assist for Hannah Christian in the 20^th minute to deadlock the score at one apiece. Ahead of the intermission, Smith would net her own tally on a loose ball on the right of the field about five yards outside of 'Wick territory.
 
Marissa Downes (Boiceville, NY/Onteora) sported her third assist this season as the senior planted herself right in the cluster in front of the goal. Her close pass to a ready Wheeler leveled the playing field yet again, 2-2, with just under ten minutes to go in the second half.
 
Laura Wind's play on the connection from Ciara Lyne determined the win as her short shot hit the back of the cage at 65:59 as the final scoring play.
 
Hartwick outshot Union considerably, 29-11 with Allyson Osborne (Nottingham, PA/Solanco) stopping four of the foe's attempts in goal. On the other side, keeper, Heather Poisson, severed 22 of Hartwick's tries. Claudia Stone (Akron, NY/Akron) (8) and Allyson Quirk (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) (7) generated the most shots for the Hawks.
 
The Hawks continue their road trip making their way up to Nazareth, Saturday, October 7 before their Empire 8 semifinals rematch against Washington and Jefferson the following weekend.