ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick field hockey team dominated Saturday's afternoon home game against visiting Elmira, winning 6-0. The victory moves the Hawks up to 7-3 overall and 4-0 in the Empire 8, while the Soaring Eagles drop to 0-8 overall and 0-3 in conference
Hartwick had many chances in the first half, with 19 shots on goal. Quite a few of those came early on in the first, but the Hawks struggled to score. That all changed in the 10th minute as Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) tallied, sweeping a Holly Calore (Rocky Point, NY/ Rocky Point) pass into the cage. A little more than three minutes later, Leah Tolley (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) deflected a Julie Ruzzi (High Falls, NY/Rondout Valley) shot from the top of the cricle after a penalty corner and added to the Hawks growing scorecount.
In the 17th minute, the Hawks continued their goal-scoring with a beautiful individual effort by Lex Matarazzo (Commack, NY/Commack), who took it all the way down the right flank before cutting in and scoring. Libby Fortin (State College, PA/State College Area) made it 4-0 just under five minutes later, converting a penalty stroke with a shot on the right side of the cage.
Despite many attempts, Hartwick did not extend their lead in the third quarter. With six minutes left on the clock, Mackenzie Kensel (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch) had a shot on goal, but it was saved by Bella DeAmelia's right pad. Hartwick had five shots on goal in this tough period for offensive generation.
The Hawks looked rejuvenated in the fourth quarter, starting with a shot by Kensel that crossed the goal line but was waved off as the referee had called a penalty corner just before. Gagnon and Fortin both each had good chances to score a bit later on; the former's was saved and the latter's went wide. In the 52nd minute, Sami Shortino (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) scored the first goal of her collegiate career, popping in the rebound of a Ruzzi shot at the post after taking a penalty corner. Calore scored the final goal of the day in the 56th minute off a scramble.
Gagnon dominated the shot count with nine total. Ruzzi came in a close second with seven shots, whilst Calore and Fortin tied with 6 apiece. Madison Maddocks (Garrison, NY/Walter Panas) had three saves in the first half, and Ashley Luppens (Wading River, NY/Shoreham Wading River) finished off the clean sheet by playing the final 30 minutes in net.
Hartwick dominated the shot count with 40 shots to Elmira's three, the Hawks highest shot total as a team since they put 48 on net in a 3-2 win over Morrisville on September 15, 2015. They also led in corners, with 13 to Elmira's one.
'Wick is back to it on Wednesday for rivalry day, as they head over to SUNY Oneonta at 5 p.m.
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