COLONIE, NY – The Hartwick field hockey team took care of business on Sunday, earning their second win in as many days with a 7-1 victory over host Russell Sage. The win moves the Hawks to 6-2 overall and 3-0 in the Empire 8, as well as into a tie for first in the conference. Russell Sage's tough season continues, as they are now 1-9 and 0-4 in the Empire 8.
'Wick dominated from the get-go, outshooting the Gators 7-0 in the first quarter. They only scored once in the opening stanza, however, as Holly Calore's (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) first of the day came at the death of the period off of a Rebecca Peakes (West Chester, PA/Unionville) corner. Libby Fortin (State College, PA/State College Area) earned the assist.
The Hawks turned up the heat even more in the second quarter, winning the shot battle 9-0 to go with four corners. They were rewarded for their persistence, scoring four times to pretty much put the game to bed by the half. Makenzie Kensel (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch) tallied in the opening minute of the quarter to make it 2-0, and Calore's second of the day was assisted by Peakes just over five minutes later. Peakes got in on the goalscoring action herself in the 23rd minute, picking up her first of the season via a Julie Ruzzi (High Falls, NY/Rondout Valley) assist. Emily Schaub (Brewster, NY/Brewster) rounded out the half's scoring, making it 5-0 in the 27th minute, with the assist to Kensel.
'Wick picked up where they left off to start the third, as a Chrissy Boeltz (Greene, NY/Greene Central) penalty corner led directly to a Leah Tolley (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) goal just 31 seconds into the second half. Ashley Tricarico (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) earned Hartwick's final score of the day in the 42nd minute, as after a Peakes corner Boeltz set up the freshman midfielder for the team's seventh of the day.
Russell Sage's lone goal came just over three minutes into the fourth quarter, as Alyssa Fitzgerald potted her second of the year to break up the shutout.
Tricarico led all players in shots, with a career-high six (one of which was her goal). Three Hawks had three shots on the day: Kensel, Schaub and Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central). Madison Maddocks (Garrison, NY/Walter Panas) and Ashley Luppens (Wading River, NY/Shoreham Wading River) split the game in net for Hartwick, with the former playing the first half and the latter seeing action over the final 30 minutes.
'Wick returns to action on Wednesday with a tough test, traveling to take on a Cortland team currently ranked 18th in the nation. The action begins at 5 p.m.
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