TROY, NY – Sophomore Allyson Quirk (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) had the eventual game winner as the Hartwick field hockey team tabbed a come-from-behind victory, 3-2, in its season opener against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Friday afternoon.

Quirk also had a hand in the second scoring play of the afternoon, the first for the Hawks. Senior Claudia Stone (Akron, NY/Akron) sprinted down the right side of the field. On a connection from Quick, she sailed in her shot to the opposite corner of the cage tying things up a one apiece in the 25^th minute.
 
The Engineers' Taylor Clink got her team on the board first, three minutes prior, on a penalty stroke.

Hartwick rattled off three more shots behind the first horn while freshman Allyson Osborne (Nottingham, PA/Solanco) rejected RPI's only attempt before the intermission.
 
In the second half, 'Wick got off to the races first. Bella Wheeler (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia) caught possession of the ball from Brooke Singer (Johnson City, NY/Maine-Endwell Sr) sweeping the ball in through the center just 2:02 after the break.
 
Momentous, Quirk added 'Wick's third tally on a feed from Maria Stalder (New Woodstock, NY/Cazenovia). Down the right side, Stalder found Quirk as she blasted a shot from in front of the goal six minutes later.
 
Down two, RPI pressured the Hawks freezing their offense while attempting six shots and six corners within a five-minute span. On the sixth attempt, Mikaela DiBello's try was blocked allowing the loose ball in the Hawks' territory. Megan Jones got behind it and eked a shot through traffic to bring the Engineers within one with just over 20 minutes left to play.

RPI managed to edge 'Wick in shots and corners, 7-6 and 5-4, respectively, for the duration of the game. In large credit to Hartwick's defense, which included three of Osborne's nine total saves and four Hawks' rejections, HC maintained its lead and edged out the victory.

Field hockey will compete at home for the first time this season on Sunday, September 3 when it welcomes Keuka. The action starts at 1 p.m. at Wright Stadium.