CONWAY, SC – No. 5 seed Howard scored in the 31^st minute for the game's only goal as the Bison defeated the No. 4 seed Hartwick College Hawks 1-0 in the Sun Belt Conference First Round at Coastal Carolina Soccer Complex in Conway, SC on Friday.
           
The loss ends the Hawks' season at 7-9-2. The Bison, who improve to 2-14-3 on the year, advance to Saturday's semifinals against No. 1 seed and host Coastal Carolina.
           
The game was a rematch of the regular season finale just six days ago in Washington, D.C. as the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie.
           
The first half of play had limited scoring chances over the opening 20 minutes. Andres Gomez had the first clear opportunity by either team with just over 21 minutes remaining in the half. After winning a ball 25 yards from Hartwick's goal, Gomez bent a shot from 20 yards that was headed for the corner but Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy) made a diving stop to keep it out.
           
Just about seven minutes later, the Bison surged ahead. A service to the top of the Hartwick 18 was headed at goal by Isaac Mbappe. Wilson dove left to get a finger-tip save to it, but Kyle Celestine was there to finish off the rebound in front for the 1-0 Howard advantage.
           
Howard would end the first half with a 6-5 edge in shots. Shots on goal was even at 3-3.
           
The Hawks got the ball deep into Howard territory twice in the opening three and a half minutes of the second half. Marc Berry (Galashiels, Scotland/Galashiels Academy) registered the first shot of the half from the Hawks on an effort from 25 yards but it was right at Howard keeper Carlos Caro, who had to go down to get it.
           
With just over 15 minutes left in the contest, a service from the right side of the Bison goal from Kane O'Neill (Lochwinnoch, Scotland/Gryffe HS) made its way into the box. The ball met the head of Jamie O'Grady (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk HS) only to hit the side netting just outside of the near post and out of bounds for a goal kick.
           
Three minutes later the Hawks earned a free kick 25 yards from goal. Hamish Ritchie (Aberdeen, Scotland/Aboyne Academy) fired over the wall to the near post but it went inches wide. Seconds later, Berry's ball from the right side was just out of reach of a diving Jonny Carr (Sunderland, England/Monkwearmouth) on the back post.
           
The Hawks' pressure continued with under 10 minutes remaining as O'Grady shot to force a save from Caro. On the ensuing corner, Ellis Hancox's (Garstang, England/Myerscough College) deflected shot hit the netting just above the crossbar.
           
Hartwick began serving balls into the box in a last-ditched effort for the tying goal but it never came. The Hawks pleaded for a handball in the box with 10 seconds to go but the referee waved it off and the Bison emerged with the win to advance to the semis.
           
The Hawks would out-shoot the Bison 14-6, including a 9-0 advantage in the second half. 'Wick took all five corners of the second have for a final margin of 5-1.
           
Wilson finished the day with three saves for Hartwick. Caro made six stops for Howard.
           
With the result, 'Wick drops to 11-3-1 against the Bison all-time. The loss snaps a 10-game unbeaten streak against Howard dating back to 2001.