CLINTON, NY – After taking a 1-0 lead into the half, host Hamilton poured on four goals in the final 45 minutes to run away with a victory over the Hartwick women's soccer team, 5-0. The loss snaps a five-game unbeaten streak for the Hawks, as the #9 ranked team in the East Region per United Soccer Coaches falls to 7-3-1. The Continentals continue their strong season, improving to 7-2-1.
Gabrielle Kreppein (Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) had the first shot for either team, sending one across the box and wide left in the fifth minute. After the Continentals had the next four shots, Caroline Dawson broke through in the 17th minute. She took an Emma Gaulin pass and dribbled down near the left endline, eventually catching Cassandra Robataille (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) off the line enough to slip one by her and into the far side of the net for a 1-0 lead. Hamilton kept the pressure on after the goal; they had four more shots on target by midway through the 25th minute, all of which Robataille managed to stop to keep the deficit at one. Neither team managed to pot one for the rest of the half. Hartwick had another shot in the 39th minute, this one from Nicole Chisdsak (Vestal, NY/Vestal), but the Continentals held a 15-2 shot advantage and 1-0 lead at the break.
Hamilton wasted little time giving themselves some breathing room at the start of the second half, scoring in the 49th and 57th minutes on the period's first two shots. Allie Reed connected just 3:48 into the period, assisted by Kristin Hughes. Hughes sent a high cross into the box that Robataille could not quite knock away, as the ball fell to Reed's feet and wound up in the top-left corner of the net. Cat Gambino scored her team-high ninth goal under eight minutes later, bouncing Rose McCullough's one-timer from the penalty spot and into the net.
The Continentals put the game away in the 77th minute, securing a 4-0 lead on Alex Fontana's goal. Mackenzie Christensen sent a long ball from midfield to Gambino, who redirected it to Fontana. Fontana was all alone as she sent the ball into the lower-right corner of the net. Kristin Hughes finished the scoring in the 86th minute with her first career goal. Sydney Kim crossed the ball over to Hughes, who buried the ball inside the left post.
Kreppein and Chisdak had the only two shots on the day for the Hawks, the team's season low. Robataille allowed four goals and made 11 saves over the first 78:49 before Sara Staup (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) came in for her first significant collegiate action. She let up one goal in 11:11 of play.
Fontana had a big day for the Continentals, throwing up a career-high seven shots, including her goal. Kayleigh Harris and Rylie Mutton tied for the next-highest shot total, at four apiece, and Gambino and Dawson each had a goal on three shots (Gambino also had her assist). Hughes had a goal on two shots and an assist, and Reed's goal came on her lone attempt. Rachel Pike played all ninety minutes in net, making one save for her second consecutive and third overall shutout.
Hamilton dominated the shot count, leading 28-2, as well as 16-1 in shots on goal. They also had a heavy advantage in corner kicks, at 9 -1.
Hartwick looks to right the ship this Saturday at home, as they take on Elmira in a conference matchup at 1 p.m. for their Code Blue game.
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