ELMIRA, NY – Despite outshooting their hosts by 20, the Hartwick women's soccer team found themselves tied at one with Elmira after 90 minutes had passed. It did not take long into overtime for them to eliminate that disappointment, as freshman Abigail McCleary (Monroe, NY/Monroe Woodbury) earned her first career point on classmate Julia Bono's (West Milford, NJ/West Milford Township) first collegiate goal in the 92nd minute, lifting the Hawks to a 2-1 victory. The win boosts the Hawks to 5-2-3 on the season and keeps them undefeated in the Empire 8 at 3-0-1. They currently sit at the top of the table with 10 points earned. Elmira is now 3-8-2 and falls to 0-3-2 in conference.
The first 15 minutes went by without much danger near either goal, although the Hawks had by far the best of play, with two shots and four corner kicks. Nicole Conway (Chester, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) sent a great ball into the box after one of those corners was cleared out, but it passed harmlessly through the goal area. Kayla Grassi (Montgomery, NY/Pine Bush) won a free kick a couple yards off the top of the box in the 16th minute, leading to an excellent opportunity that Nicole Casab (Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor) put high.
The Hawks broke the ice not far after, as Gianna Cacciola (Wading River, NY/Shoreham Wading River) played Julia Collado (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon) for the finish and the lead in the 20th minute. The pair connected again not long after, but this time Collado's left-footed effort went high. 'Wick continued to keep the pressure on, resulting in a pair of tight angle shots from Collado and Cacciola, the first of which was saved and the second of which went wide to the far side.
'Wick's best chance for the remainder of the half came off the foot of Grace Byrne (Lynbrook, NY/Sacred Heart Academy), whose 36th minute effort from 20+ yards out put a scare into Elmira keeper Navaeh Winston before floating harmlessly over the crossbar. Madi McGuire (Goshen, NY/Goshen) also had a go at it from long range in the 41st minute that Winston took care of.
The teams traded chances in the opening five minutes of the second half, with Elmira's effort requiring a Sara Staup (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) save that went out for an ultimately harmless corner. 'Wick had a couple somewhat frantic chances in the box over the next 15 minutes, but all were handled by the Soaring Eagles back line and goalkeeper.
Elmira was finally able to even things up in the 70th minute. 'Wick's backline misplayed a ball around their box, and a pressing Taylor Wilms was able to poke it by Staup for the equalizer. Byrne had a very good look to retake the lead from the center of the goal under five minutes later but sent her shot right at Winston.
The Hawks had an excellent chance for the potential winner in the 80th minute. After Luisa Andrade (São Paulo, Brazil/The Pennington School) drew a foul at the corner of the box, Casab's free kick found a free Cacciola's head for a shot that flew wide of the right post. That was the last significant chance through the end of regulation, as the teams headed to overtime tied at one goal apiece.
Bono's winner came just 77 seconds into the extra period. After throwing it in to Cacciola in the corner, McCleary received a return pass from the sophomore winger, paused, and then sent a ball to the far post. Bono took it with her left foot on the volley and lofted it over Winston and inside the right post for the game-winner.
Collado led all players with seven shots, a new career high. Cacciola was right behind her with six tries at net, her highest total since the season opener at Wells. Byrne was the only other Hawk with more than two of Hartwick's 25 shots, with four. Staup played all 91:17 in net, making two saves in the win.
'Wick hits the road again on Saturday for another Empire 8 matchup, taking on Alfred at 6 p.m.
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