ONEONTA, NY – It was Madeline Krecidlo's game-winner midway through the fourth quarter that proved the difference as Utica defeated Hartwick, 2-1, in a battle of the Empire 8's second-place teams on 'Wick's Senior Day. The win moves the Pioneers to 7-9 overall and 5-1 in the conference, and secures them the second seed in the Empire 8 Tournament. The Hawks drop to 10-6 and 3-3 in the E8; their spot in the playoffs is still up in the air.
Before the game, Hartwick honored seniors Rebecca Bonini (Avon, CT/Avon), Allyson Quirk (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow), Maggie Stauble (Kingston, NY/Kingston), Gina Cozetti (Commack, NY/Commack), Abby White (Binghamton, NY/Windsor Central), Kate LaPorta (Schenectady, NY/Niskayuna), Kelsey Chubb (Clarence, NY/Clarence Central), and Bella Wheeler (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia) for their hard work and dedication throughout their four years with the program.
It was Utica that came out buzzing, however, dominating the entire first quarter that saw them outshoot the Hawks 10-0. Their first three shots came within five seconds just under three minutes in. The first two were stopped by keeper Allyson Osborne (Nottingham, PA/Solanco), and Stauble stopped the third with a defensive save. Osborne made a beautiful save in the seventh minute on Sabrina Whitehouse's shot, finding the ball through a maze of bodies and blocking it away. The Pioneers finally got one through in the 10th minute, however. Sydney Scaccia centered the ball initially, and Whitehouse cleaned up by poking it by Osborne at 9:09. Utica had a couple more chances to add their lead by the end of the quarter, but settled for the 1-0 advantage after 15 minutes.
After another chance for the Pioneers in the opening minutes of the second, 'Wick turned the tide, as much of the rest of the half was played in the Utica defensive end. They had four shots in the period, and it was the final try that tied up the game in the final minute. Rebecca Peakes (Mechanicville, NY/Shenendehowa) took a corner and sent it to Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) at the top of the circle, who pushed it over a few feet to Brooke Singer (Johnson City, NY/Maine-Endwell). As she has done so many times this year, Singer rocketed one from just inside the circle to the back of the net, knotting the game at one-all at 29:21. The goal was Singer's seventh on the year, second on the team, and it came off of Gagnon's fourth assist and 28th point, tops out of all Hawks.
Play was more even in the third quarter, although the home side still had the edge. They had a prime chance early on that saw the ball dance right by the goal mouth, and Gagnon sent one into Utica goalie Megan Chamberlain's pads on a breakaway in the 37th minute. Gagnon had another good chance from close in stopped by Chamberlain just 44 seconds later. Utica tried to turn the tables late in the third on an odd-man rush, but defenders Bonini and Peakes snuffed it out.
The Pioneers threw it back to the first quarter to open the fourth, controlling play completely. Whitehouse was all alone at the left post on the first shot of the period after Osborne charged out to stop a chance but deflected the ball right to her opponent. She somehow sent it wide left, keeping the game tied at one for the moment. Utica had a few corners in a row in the 50th and 51st minutes, and they nabbed the go-ahead goal on the last one. Whitehouse hit the ball into a jumble of players near the front of the cage, and the ball came to Krecidlo for the tap-in at the right post at 50:47. The Pioneers almost got the insurance goal a couple minutes later when Scaccia had two shots in a row, but Osborne stopped the first and Stauble the second for her second defensive save of the afternoon. The Hawks only had one legitimate chance to tie it for the remainder of the day, coming off a Peakes corner in the 53rd minute. Tegan Robinson (Mechanicville, NY/Shenendehowa) and Quirk each had shots on target, but both were stopped by Chamberlain.
Gagnon led all Hawks with four shots (three on-goal) to go with her assist. Robinson and Quirk each had a pair of attempts, and Singer scored on her only shot. Osborne made seven saves on the day, and has allowed three or fewer goals in each game she has played this season.
Krecidlo was dominant for Utica, putting up a game-high six shots (five on target) and the winner. Scaccia had five shots, four on goal, as well as her assist. Whitehouse had three shots (one goal), and a helper, too, and Jeslyn Files had two shots. Chamberlain was solid in the cage, making six saves on seven shots for the win.
Utica had the clear upper hand overall, outshooting the Hawks, 18-10, as well as 11-7 in shots on goal. They also led in corners, 9-3.
Hartwick enters the final game of the season alone in third place in the conference but with their playoff spot still uncertain. They make the long trip to take on Washington & Jefferson next Saturday, November 2 at 1 p.m. Any combination of a Hartwick win, Nazareth win over St. John Fisher, or Houghton loss to Utica would clinch the Hawks' playoff spot.
Make sure to catch the latest news on all your favorite Hartwick Hawks teams by following @HawkTalk on Twitter, @hartwickhawks on Instagram, and by liking 'Hartwick Hawks' on Facebook.
