ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick women's soccer team picked up a 4-2 victory over Russell Sage in a high-flying affair on Elmore Field Wednesday evening, clinching their fifth consecutive Empire 8 Tournament berth in the process. The Hawks are now 6-2-4 overall and remain unbeaten in conference play at 4-0-2. They sit second in the table with 14 points. The Gators fall to 5-8-2 and 1-4-1 in the Empire 8.

'Wick cracked the ice in just the eighth minute. Grace Byrne (Lynbrook, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) made a couple nice moves over on the right side of the box and then sent one over towards Madi McGuire (Goshen, NY/Goshen), who poked it in for her fourth of the season. Nicole Casab (Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor) came close to doubling the lead in the 23^rd minute on a free kick that sailed not far over the net. Russell Sage looked for an equalizer in the 33rd minute, as Aimee Warman's effort required a leaning Sara Staup (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) save. The score would remain 1-0 at the break.

Things picked up in a big way in the final 45 minutes, with the teams combining for five goals. Julia Collado (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon) took advantage of a Gator turnover in the 52^nd minute, driving down the right touch line before crossing the ball to Gianna Cacciola (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills Ballston Lake) for the finish. Sage pulled back to within one just 84 seconds later, however, as a poor Hartwick outlet pass was nabbed by Samantha Schmidt and then lofted into the box where an unmarked Natalie Ricci headed it in. Schmidt nearly equalized a few minutes after that, as her 57^th minute effort required an excellent Staup save into the crossbar.

Byrne would reestablish the lead in the 66^th minute. Kayla Grassi (Chester, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) played her in, and like her assist earlier, made a couple nice moves before slotting it into the upper right portion of the goal for her first collegiate goal. Once again, the Gators would not go away, although this time their score required some help from Hartwick. Hallie Klosterman sent one in from well outside the box that Staup mishandled and Marissa Key pounced on to make her deficit one again, in the 76^th minute.

The day's final goal came from the penalty spot, courtesy of Casab in the 77^th minute. Hannah Bochniak (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) earned the penalty as she was taken down on the preceding Casab corner. Casab made no mistake from 12 yards, putting it in the left side of the net for the victory-securing tally.

The Hawks were heavily outshot by the Gators, as they were uncharacteristically outchanced 14-6. Staup ended up with eight saves in her 90 minutes in net. Corner kicks were in favor of the home side, at 4-2 to Hartwick's advantage.

'Wick returns to action on Saturday with an important matchup against table-topping Nazareth on the road. The Hawks will try to deliver the Golden Flyers their first loss of the conference season beginning at 1:30 p.m.

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