HOUGHTON, NY – Hartwick scored the first seven goals of the game and cruised to a 13-3 victory at Houghton on Saturday at Burke Field. The game marked the first Empire 8 Conference contest for both teams. 'Wick, now a winner of its last four games, improves to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the league. Houghton falls to 2-4 and 0-1.
           
Sam Ferguson (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) accounted for two goals and two assists for the Hawks. Kainen Francis-Thompson (Hogansburg, NY/Massena) added a pair of tallies and one assist and Garrison Wojtas (Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge) also contributed a pair of scores. David Demand (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) and Mike Majchrzak (Plantsville, CT/Southington) each chipped in a goal and two helpers for the Hawks.
           
Hartwick would out-shoot Houghton 50-26 in the game, including a 36-10 margin in the middle two quarters. The Hawks also had the edge in ground balls, 42-33.
           
'Wick began the game with two goals in the opening 2:41. Francis-Thompson tallied from Majchrzak to break the ice and Sam Ferguson added a goal from Tyler Coleman (Round Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) for a 2-0 lead. Dylan Ferguson (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) made it 3-0 with 4:05 left in the quarter. Majchrzak was credited with the assist.
           
The Highlanders kept the Hawks out for the opening seven minutes of the second quarter, but four goals in a 5:25 span made it a seven-goal game. Nick Couvaris (Seaford, NY/Seaford) started the run with an unassisted goal and Wojtas netted back-to-back goals 21 seconds apart with Demand and Sam Ferguson notching assists. Francis Thompson closed out the first half with his second goal of the game. Demand provided the feed.
           
Houghton got on the scoreboard 24 seconds into the third quarter as Jonathan Mayer scored a man-up goal. The Hawks would finish the quarter with four straight even-strength goals. On the first two, Sam Ferguson scored and assisted another. He tallied off a Francis-Thompson pass and then set up Demand for the Hawks' ninth goal. Chris VanDemark (Painted Post, NY/Corning Painted-Post) gave the Hawks 10 with an unassisted goal. Wyatt Long (Hardwick, NJ/Blair Academy) then found Justin Curreri (Miller Place, NY/Rocky Point) at 1:22 to close out the quarter up 11-2.
           
The two teams traded goals in the final quarter. Houghton received goals from Cole Chapman and Thomas Woodward. Garrett Mancuso (Seaford, NY/Seaford) scored off a Tim Watson (Wrentham, MA/King Philip Regional) for Hartwick. Majchrzak closed out the scoring from Long.
           
C.J. Alesandrini (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) played in goal for the Hawks. He made 13 saves for a save percentage of .813 on the day. Wojtas led Hartwick with game-highs of 10 ground balls and six caused turnovers. Couvaris added six ground balls and two caused turnovers.
           
Dylan Reynolds (Tappan, NY/Tappan Zee) contributed five ground balls. He also won 7-of-14 face-offs. Watson and Francis-Thompson chipped in four GBs apiece.
           
Hartwick next plays on Wednesday, March 27. The Hawks play Elmira College at Notre Dame High School beginning at 7 p.m.
           
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