ONEONTA, NY – After a level first half that saw neither team put one past the keeper, the Susquehanna River Hawks scored three times in 25-and-a-half minutes on Saturday afternoon, taking the first game of the Mayor's Cup from the Hartwick women's soccer team, 3-0. With the win, the River Hawks improve to 2-1, while the Hawks fall to the same record.
Susquehanna's Emily Wertz had the first significant chance for either side, when she put one off the post at 13:21, but ultimately nothing came of it. The River Hawks had the first five shots of the game, but Hartwick responded with the final five attempts of the half. Nicole Conway (Chester, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) had a chance at 25:34 with a header off a corner, but it sailed wide. Gabrielle Kreppein (Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) lined a hard attempt at 30:14, but that was blocked by a River Hawk. Neither team seriously threatened for the remainder of the half, and the teams went into the locker room at the half tied at 0-0.
Hartwick came out with a couple chances early. Conway had another header blocked, and Chrissy Picard (Portland, CT/Portland) sent one wide 13 seconds later at 46:03. Susquehanna broke through on a long cross at 52:15 that may have seen a handball gone uncalled, as it deflected a couple times, last off of Samantha Chillis, and into the net for a 1-0 advantage. The River Hawks kept the pressure up, eventually earning a corner at 62:21 that they used to double their lead. Olivia Parke took the corner and sent one low into the box that Hayley Steinmetz put past the keeper for her first of the year, assisted by Wertz. Hartwick could not get much going, and Susquehanna eventually put the game away at 77:45, after Katherine Ross got her own rebound and shot a hard ball that deflected off of goalie Cassandra Robataille (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) and in. The final 12+ minutes ran out with a few more chances for the River Hawks, including a shot from Anna Werner that hit the crossbar at 85:04. Time ran out with the score still 3-0.
Kreppein led the Hawks with three shots, two which went on target. Conway also had a pair of shots. Hannah Bochniak (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) did not show up in the box score, but created quite a few good scoring opportunities for 'Wick. Robataille saw her shutout streak stopped at 437:33, spanning from last year's regular season game against Utica to the 53rd minute today. She ended up allowing three goals and making five saves on the day. Sara Staup (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) made her collegiate debut when Robataille briefly exited the game in the first half, playing 52 seconds.
Werner led all players with four shots, although none were on target. Wertz tied her with four shots of her own, one on goal. Chillis had three shots, including her goal, Ross had two shots on goal (and one in goal), and Steinmetz had the other tally. Madi Welliver played the whole game in net for the River Hawks, making five saves for a clean sheet.
Susquehanna had the significant shot advantage, at 17-10. They turned it up a notch in the second half, with 12 of their shots coming in the final 45 minutes, compared to Hartwick's five. The River Hawks also had an 8-2 advantage in corners.
Both of these teams are back in action tomorrow. The Hawks will take on Clarkson at home at 12 p.m., after the Golden Knights tied Oneonta today, 3-3, in a game that saw goals scored by Oneonta in the 88th minute and Clarkson in the 90th. Susquehanna heads across the street to take on the Red Dragons, also at noon.
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