ONEONTA, NY – A frigid day on the Wright Stadium turf was no match for the Hawks' hot sticks in their season opener, as the Hartwick women's lacrosse team blew out visiting Mount Saint Mary, 15-2. Seven Hawks had multi-point efforts in Head Coach Nora Fallon-Oben's first win as a Hawk. The contest was also the season opener for the Knights, who dropped to 0-1.
Hartwick started scoring early and often on Saturday. Jennifer Darasz (Gorham, ME/Gorham) hit the post just ten seconds into the game, but Cassie Durkin (Fayetteville, NY/Jamesville Dewitt) was able to break the ice 2:40 in off a pass by Amy Tracy (Smithtown, NY/Florida Southern College). Tracy got the next tally under a minute later after the Knights' Meghan Cumming received a yellow card and the Hawks cashed in. The following two 'Wick goals came down a woman thanks to an Emily Schaub (Brewster, NY/Brewster) yellow card. Tracy had a nice feed to Darasz for the first at 7:09, and GinaMarie Wilson (East Meadow, NY/East Meadow) controlled the ensuing draw, drove to the net, earned a free-position shot, and converted for her first of the year 14 seconds later.
Darasz would hit the post again off a beautiful feed from Alexa Matarazzo (Commack, NY/Commack), but 'Wick continued the scoring just over midway through the first half on a nifty Schaub backhanded free-position goal with the clock showing 14:25. Rachel Hedden (Burlington, CT/Central Conn. State) was the next beneficiary of a Tracy assist, as the midfielder slotted one through the Knights defense to Hedden for a 6-0 lead 56 seconds later. Darasz finally got on the board again with 11:14 to go thanks to a lengthy Schaub pass, and Michaela McKernan (Branchville, NJ/High Point Regional) earned a woman-up goal at 22:35 via another gorgeous Tracy feed. Wilson and Hedden connected on the final two goals of the period, with Wilson scoring the first and Hedden the second. 'Wick led 10-0 at the break.
Hartwick's scoring slowed down in the second half, although Wilson scored just 11 seconds in off the opening draw, driving to the net and finishing. Schaub got her second of the year from Darasz on the break 3:13 in, and Matarazzo's first collegiate goal made it 13-0 with 21:54 showing on the scoreboard. Mount Saint Mary finally tallied at 14:10, on a Liz Halpin goal. Durkin whipped her second of the game into the top left corner off a Tracy pass with 8:24 to go, and Matarazzo scored unassisted on the break at 24:28 for the 15th 'Wick tally. Halpin closed the scoring with 3:28 left, driving from behind the goal line to the front of the net and wrapping one around the keeper into the goal.
Tracy led the way in the points column for the afternoon, as she spun pass after gorgeous pass for five assists to go with her goal. Wilson was next with five points on three goals and two assists, also contributing elsewhere with a team-high five draw controls, three ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Hedden, Darasz, and Schaub each had two goals and an assist, with Schaub leading all players at seven shots. Durkin and Matarazzo tallied two goals for their point totals; the former also tied with Wilson and Ciara Davis (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) for the team-high of three ground balls. The Hawks split the game in net. Ashley Jablonowski (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) played a strong first to earn the win, making four saves and not allowing a single ball by her, while Jennifer Paszko (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) entered in relief for the final thirty minutes and made two saves on four shots on goal.
Liz Halpin, the scorer of both Knights' goals, also led them with six shots (three on goal) and six draw controls. Victoria Ward and Cat Halpin each had two shots and three ground balls, with Halpin picking up two draw controls as well. Carolyn Del Debbio also had two shots and two draw controls. Jackie Finkel played the entire game in net, making nine saves and registering a game-high four ground balls.
As a team, the Hawks dominated the shot column, outshooting Mount Saint Mary 32-13 overall and 24-8 in shots on goal. They won the turnover battle, 23 to 30, cleared at a 13-of-20 rate compared to the Knights' 9-of-20, and narrowly picked up more ground balls, 22 to 21. The visitors did control more draws than 'Wick, 11 to 8.
The Hawks are back on the Wright Stadium turf this Wednesday, March 4, when they take on Bard College at 4 p.m.
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