ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick's women's soccer team defeated Nazareth for the first time since 1987 on Saturday with a 1-0 clean sheet. The Golden Flyers, who entered the match ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches Easter Region Poll, had beaten the Hawks 20 consecutive times, but an own goal in the 63
rd minute proved to be the difference.
With the win, the Hawks take three big points in the Empire 8 standings and improve to 7-3, and 2-1. Nazareth drops to 6-3-1 and 1-1 in league play.
Scoring chances were at a premium throughout the day with only 10 shots being recorded in total by both teams.
Sara McGiff (Brookhaven, NY/St. Anthony's) had the first chance for the Hawks as her header in the box off a
Kiley Richardson (Flanders, NJ/Roxbury) free kick went just wide of the far post.
Both teams recorded a pair of shots on target in the opening 45 minutes but they would enter halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
The goal would come just under 18 minutes into the second half. On the right side of the Golden Flyers' 18-yard box, senior
Sierra Bentley (Worcester, NY/Schenevus) sent a ball into the box near the penalty spot that caught the foot of a Naz defender. Goalkeeper Hannah Miller was already headed in the opposite direction before the touch and the ball trickled past the goal line for a 1-0 Hartwick advantage.
Perhaps the Golden Flyers' best chance on goal came with 12 and a half minutes remaining. Kate Billington's corner found Paige Sullivan in the box. Sullivan's powerful headed went straight at
Cassandra Robataille (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) who made the stop in the Hartwick goal. The Hawks maintained their lead through the final 12 minutes denying another Naz shot in the victory.
The two teams were even in shots (5-5) for the match. The Flyers produced four corners to the Hawks' three. Robataille ended the game with three saves to secure her second straight clean sheet. Miller finished with three saves for Naz.
Hartwick will host Hamilton on Tuesday, October 3 beginning at 6 p.m.
