ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick won for the tenth time this season as it defeated visiting Alfred University 12-4 on Saturday at Wright Stadium. The result seals an Empire 8 playoff spot for the third consecutive season. It also marks the first 10-win season for the program since 2011.
           
Hartwick has won two straight and 10 of their last 11 games dating back to early March. The Hawks are 10-2 overall and 6-1 in the Empire 8. The six conference wins are the most for the Hawks in program history.
           
'Wick played a dominant first quarter as it netted seven goals to pull away early. Sam Ferguson (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) scored three goals in the quarter. Alec Lind (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills Ballston Lake) added a pair and Dylan Ferguson (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) and Kainen Francis-Thompson (Hogansburg, NY/Massena) also tallied.
           
Francis-Thompson made it an eight goal game early in the second quarter before the Saxons finally got on the scoreboard at 11:23. Francis-Thompson made it 9-2 at halftime with his third goal of the day with under a minute left.
           
AU twice cut its deficit to seven twice in the third quarter. Tim Watson (Wrentham, MA/King Philip Regional) netted one at the 11:52 mark to make the lead eight once again. Tallies from David Demand (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) and Watson in the opening 4:26 of the fourth shut the door on any possibility of a comeback.
           
Francis-Thompson would score three times and register an assist. Sam Ferguson also scored three. Lind and Watson each had two goals while Demand scored a goal and dished out two assists. Chris VanDemark (Painted Post, NY/Corning-Painted Post) chipped in a pair of helpers. Dylan Reynolds (Tappan, NY/Tappan Zee) and Wyatt Long (Hardwick, NJ/Blair Academy) also turned in assists.
           
C.J. Alesandrini (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) made 14 saves with just four goals conceded on the day. He also had six ground balls. Garrison Wojtas (Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge) led all players with 10 ground balls and four caused turnovers. Dylan Ferguson added four ground balls for the Hawks. Matt Puzo (Apalachin, NY/Vestal), Derek Chandler (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa), Lind, Francis-Thompson, and Mike Majchrzak (Plantsville, CT/Southington) all had three.
           
Four different players scored for Alfred with Cale Donegan scoring and assisting goals in the contest. Garrette Briggs won 12-of-17 face-offs and grabbed eight ground balls.
           
The Hawks host Hamilton on Tuesday in their final non-conference game of the regular season. They face defending champion and first-place Stevens on Senior Day one week from today.
           
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