ONEONTA, NY – Despite outplaying #4-seeded Utica all game, the #2-seeded Hartwick women's soccer team fell in the Empire 8 Final on an 81st minute goal by the Pioneers' Sydney Cook on Saturday evening at Elmore Field. The win brings Utica's season record to 12-5-1, while the Hawks end their year at 12-4-3. The Pioneers will find out their first round opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Monday.
The Hawks outshot Utica 9-0 in the first half, starting their dominance from the get-go. In the sixth minute, Courtney Velho (Derry, NH/Pinkerton Academy) played a long ball into the box that Gabrielle Kreppein (Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) just missed getting a head on. Kreppein had another good chance in the 14th minute, when she corralled a pass from Katie Ziniti (Chester, NH/Pinkerton Academy), but her turnaround shot went wide of the goal. Kreppein had another chance on a quick-turn shot in the 19th minute; this time she got it on goal, but Utica keeper Allison Wagner made a leaning save to her right. Hartwick had a few more chances before the end of the half, including a Velho try that was blocked off a corner in the 41st minute, but could not convert as the game was scoreless at the half.
Wagner continued her prowess in the early minutes of the second half, leaping to grab a free kick in the 50th minute and cutting off a Kreppein cross a few minutes later. Utica registered their first shot of the night in the 62nd minute, and nearly broke the ice then. Kierra Caissey took a try from a few yards outside of the box that went just a couple feet over the net. The Hawks had a shot go similarly high with just over 15 minutes remaining. A Dana Caputo (Commack, NY/Commack) free kick was cleared out of the box by Utica, but Samantha Ford (Acton, MA/Acton Boxborough Regional) ended up with the ball. She put a charge into one from just outside the top of the penalty area, but sent it high.
Just like in their 1-0 Semifinal win at St. John Fisher, the Pioneers got the winner on a goal in the final ten minutes. Their ace forward Mikayla Blumenstock ended up with the ball in the box and drifted left, pulling Hartwick keeper Cassandra Robataille (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) off her line to charge out. Blumenstock avoided Robataille and passed it to Cook, who got the ball over a Hawk back's leg and into the net at 80:12. The Hawks pressed after that; Nicole Chisdak (Vestal, NY/Vestal) had a gorgeous opportunity with just over two minutes to go, sending one towards goal from a sharp angle on the right side. Wagner bobbled the ball, but eventually secured the save. Hartwick had one more chance to tie, on a corner with a minute left, but the ball was cleared out of harm's way and all the way into the 'Wick defensive end, where it remained until time ran out.
Kreppein led the Hawks with six shots on the evening, putting two on target. Tanner Reed (Unadilla, NY/Unatego Central) and Velho each contributed with two scoring tries. Robataille played all ninety minutes in net during her final collegiate game, ending her Hartwick career with 29 shutouts, tied for second on the all-time list.
Utica had just two shots, from Caissey and Cook, but they made them count. Wagner was excellent all evening, making seven saves for the shutout. That performance, combined with her eight-save clean sheet in the Semifinal at St. John Fisher, earned her Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
Hartwick ended up with a 14-2 shot advantage, as well as a 7-1 lead in shots on goal. The Hawks also had a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks, but could not convert that into a win in the goal column.
The Hawks end their season in the Empire 8 Tournament for the fourth straight season. They came out victorious in 12 games, their second-highest win total since the 1992 team that won the East Coast Athletic Conference.
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.
