ROCHESTER, NY – For the first time since 2005, the Hartwick College field hockey team is on top of the Empire 8. Down 1-0 at the half in Saturday afternoon's Final against #4-seeded Nazareth, the #2-seeded Hawks scored two goals in 1:51 in the third quarter to take the lead for good in a 2-1 win. The title is also Hartwick's first since the Empire 8 went to a postseason tournament format in 2007, and sends the Hawks to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. With a goal in both the Semifinal and Final, midfielder Brooke Singer (Johnson City, NY/Maine-Endwell) was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player. Hartwick is now 13-6 overall, matching their highest win total since 2004, while Nazareth ends their season at 9-12.
The first quarter was relatively quiet, as the teams combined for just three shots. Nazareth's was taken in the fifth minute, but it was blocked by Rebecca Bonini (Avon, CT/Avon). Hartwick's first shot came in the eighth minute, when a Katie Meuse (Londonderry, NH/Londonderry) try went wide. The Hawks had a couple crosses later on in the period that entered a dangerous area by the Nazareth net, but neither ended up on a 'Wick stick. Hartwick earned the game's first corner late in the 13th minute, and tried to find Singer for her specialty. Singer could not get quite enough space, however, and her try was blocked out high.
Hartwick had some good chances early in the second, including one that entered the net but was waved off, but it was the Golden Flyers that struck first in the 23rd minute. They earned a corner at 22:34 and got a shot at net that was kept out during the ensuing scramble, but were then awarded another corner. This time, they took advantage. Natalie L'Hommedieu returned the ball into play to Jennifer Hilts at the top of the circle. Hilts, who scored the double-overtime winner in yesterday's Semifinal win over St. John Fisher, poked one a couple yards ahead to Mikaylee Whalen. Whalen turned and fired, sending one to the back-left portion of the cage for the lead at 22:59. The Hawks had some more pressure in the waning minutes of the half, but could not tie the game before the buzzer sounded.
After a chance early, Hartwick began to swarm the Nazareth circle and put some more serious pressure on the Golden Flyers. They earned a corner late in the 35th minute, and that led to a goal in the first second of the 36th. Rebecca Peakes (West Chester, PA/Unionville) took the corner, and as she so frequently does, sent it to Singer at the point. Singer rifled one that looked to be deflected in front, but it found the back of the net at 35:00 to tie the game at one.
The Hawks continued to absolutely take it to their opponents, earning two more corners in the next couple of minutes. They went back to Singer on both; the first saw the ball roll inches wide of the cage, and the second ended up with her shot being waved off as dangerous (although it did not find the back of the net anyway). 'Wick kept at it, and off a frantic scramble in the 37th minute, Meuse came away with the ball near the right post and found Allyson Quirk (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow), who slid the ball into the net for the lead at 36:51. Each team had some more nice chances before the end of the quarter, including two corners for Nazareth and one for Hartwick, but the score remained the same headed into the fourth.
Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) nearly gave the Hawks some insurance in the first minute of the final quarter. The ball came to her on the left side of the net and it looked like she might have an open cage, but goalkeeper Amanda Chuttey came over to make a diving save. Hartwick again nearly had a 3-1 lead a few minutes later; the ball rolled by Singer off a corner, but it came back to her inside the circle. She took a shot that was deflected by Leah Tolley (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon), but flew just wide of the left side of the net.
Nazareth began to press, but the Hawks defense held steady, stifling multiple rushes. When the Golden Flyers managed a shot in the 58th minute, goalkeeper Allyson Osborne (Nottingham, PA/Solanco) was there to stop Hilts with a kick save. There was of course some drama in the final moments, as Nazareth earned a corner with just two seconds left. L'Hommedieu took it, and play continued past the buzzer, but eventually the Hawks sent the ball out of bounds to end the game and secure their trophy.
Just as she did in yesterday's Semifinal win over Utica, Singer led all players in shots, with five overall as well as the game-tying goal. Meuse had three shots and the assist on Quirk's (two shots) game-winner. Gagnon also had two shots, and was involved with multiple chances to score throughout the day. Osborne made just two saves on three chances, but her big presence in the cage was key in Hartwick's win.
Hilts led the Golden Flyers with three shots, and had the assists on Nazareth's only goal, scored by Whalen. Chuttey did all she could in net to try and lift her team to the title, making five saves on seven shots, including multiple difficult ones.
After trailing the shot count 3-2 at the half, Hartwick dominated the final half-hour, outshooting Nazareth 12-3 in the second half and 14-6 overall. The Hawks ended up with a 6-5 advantage on penalty corners, as well.
Hartwick's next game will come in the NCAA Tournament. The First Round begins on Wednesday, November 13, and the Hawks will find out their fate this Sunday, November 10, when the NCAA releases the field at 11:30 p.m.
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