AURORA, NY – The Hartwick women's lacrosse team outscored Wells 11-2 in the second half on Monday evening, turning a close game at the half into a 17-6 road victory. Four Hawks had four or more points in the victory, which brings 'Wick back above .500 for the first time since the season's start, at 4-3. Wells, playing just their third game of the year, drops their second straight game and falls to 1-2.
Hartwick grabbed the lead early on. Hailey Pooler (Adams Center, NY/South Jefferson) sent home a pass from GinaMarie Wilson (East Meadow, NY/East Meadow) with 2:05 off the clock, and Emma Knapp (Canandaigua, NY/Marcus Whitman) added another just over a minute later. After Wells' Renee Bartosz cut the lead back to one, Pooler and Wilson potted unassisted goals in quick succession to make it 4-1. Mackenzie Maloney tallied the Express' second of the day at 16:22, but Cassie Durkin (Fayetteville, NY/Jamesville Dewitt) and Jennifer Darasz (Gorham, ME/Gorham) scored off of passes from Amy Tracy (Smithtown, NY/Florida Southern College) and Pooler, respectively, extending the lead out to four at 6-2. Wells would not go away, however, finishing twice in the final minute of the half to make it a two-goal game at the break.
After Knapp (assisted by Tracy) and Maloney traded goals to open up the final thirty minutes, 'Wick grabbed control. They scored the next six goals in under seven minutes, opening up a 13-5 advantage. Wilson, Pooler, and Darasz scored the first three in under 90 seconds, while Knapp, Michaela McKernan (Branchville, NJ/High Point Regional) and Durkin combined for the second trio of goals. Maloney then assisted on a Miranda Mingen tally with 13 minutes on the dot to go, but Tracy scored two in a row and was followed by goals from Wilson and McKernan to bring the score to 17-6, the eventual final.
Pooler and Wilson each had a team-high five points, tallying three goals on four shots apiece as well as four assists. Wilson also had a team-high three ground balls and three draw controls. Pooler scooped two ground balls, caused a turnover, and controlled one draw. Darasz, Knapp, and Tracy were right behind at four points each. Darasz had two goals on a game-high nine shots, two assists, and a draw control. Knapp had a hat trick on seven shots, an assist, a team high of four draw controls, and a ground ball. Tracy registered two goals on five shots and two assists, in addition to two ground ball pick-ups. Ashley Jablonowski (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) did the bulk of the goaltending for the Hawks, making 13 saves on 19 shots on goal in 51:25, giving way to Jennifer Paszko (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) for the final 8:35. Paszko made two saves during her time in net.
Hartwick had a sizeable shot advantage, taking 37 to Wells' 24, including a 22 to 10 difference in the second half. Turnovers and ground balls were closely contested, with the Express turning it over 15 times to 'Wick's 13 and scooping it 11 times to the visitors' 12. Wells controlled most of the draws, registering a 14 to 8 lead in the category. Hartwick was 17-of-19 on clear attempts compared to the hosts' 11-of-15.
Maloney starred for the Express, compiling a game-high six points via three goals on eight shots and three assists and also controlling a game-high six draws, scooping a ground ball, and causing a turnover. Mingen was the only other multi-point Express player on the day with a goal on four shots and an assist. She had five draw controls, a ground ball, and a caused turnover in addition. Anna Bozeat was in goal for Wells, and made 17 saves on 34 shots on net.
It is back to Empire 8 play next time for Hartwick, as they take on Elmira at home on Wednesday, March 27. Opening draw is set for 4 p.m.
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