ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick field hockey team earned a convincing Empire 8 victory on the Wright Stadium turf Wednesday night, taking down fellow conference contender Utica by a 4-2 score. The win brings the Hawks to 9-4 overall and 5-1 in conference, putting them on the precipice of their fourth consecutive Empire 8 Tournament appearance. The Pioneers drop to 7-7 overall and 4-2 in conference, but remain firmly in the mix for a playoff spot.
There was a lot of action from both sides early on, with multiple excellent chances throughout the first quarter either going wide or requiring a save by a goalkeeper. Utica's Chloe Williams initially kept the game scoreless in the final minute of the quarter, making the first of her three defensive saves on the evening before the Pioneers conceded a corner. Hartwick got on the board thanks to that corner, as after Julie Ruzzi's (High Falls, NY/Rondout Valley) shot was blocked by her own teammate, Leah Tolley (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) cleaned up for the 1-0 lead.
'Wick extended the lead to two not long into the second quarter, taking advantage of a Utica yellow card. Libby Fortin's (State College, PA/State College Area) initial shot was saved but Ashley Tricarico (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) was there to put in the loose ball. Madison Maddocks (Garrison, NY/Walter Panas), who was superb all evening, made an excellent stop on Jeslyn Files' shot off a corner in the 19th minute. The Hawks briefly had to play down two women after a green and yellow card in quick succession, but kept the Pioneers off the scoreboard through the end of the first half.
Maddocks made two more nifty saves on Files efforts off corner early on in the third, and Williams' other two defensive saves came not long after that. Hartwick persisted and it paid off, however, as Ruzzi took a Tolley corner and dished it to Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) who made no mistake from about eight yards out. The Hawks now had a 3-0 lead in the 38th minute.
The Pioneers finally broke their own personal ice in the 49th minute, not long after Maddocks made an excellent save on a Madeline Krecidlo deflection. Sabrina Whitehouse took a hard shot from the right side of the circle that Sydney Scaccia redirected in front and past Maddocks to break up the shutout. Hartwick restored the three-goal advantage in the 54th minute, as Ruzzi rocketed one from the top of the circle into the left side of the cage off a Tolley corner. Utica later earned a corner with four seconds left in the game and scored after time expired, as Files assisted Whitehouse's tally.
Fortin, Gagnon, and Holly Calore (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) led their side with three shots, with three more Hawks picking up two shots apiece. Maddocks made 11 saves over 60 minutes in the well-deserved win.
Shots were nearly even on the night, as Utica led 17-16 (13-all in shots on goal). The teams combined for 30 penalty corners on the night, with the visitors claiming 17 of them.
'Wick will look to secure that playoff berth on Saturday, as they travel to Nazareth for a 2 p.m. game.
Make sure to catch the latest news on all your favorite Hartwick Hawks teams by following @HawkTalk on Twitter, @hartwickhawks on Instagram, and by liking 'Hartwick Hawks' on Facebook.
