ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick field hockey team is looking for their second Empire 8 title in three years, and they will have to start their endeavor against a familiar Semifinal foe. The Hawks defeated Utica in the 2019 conference semifinals en route to their first ever Empire 8 Championship win, on the campus of St. John Fisher, but this time 'Wick earned home field advantage. Second-seeded Hartwick (7-1 E8) takes on the third-seeded Pioneers (6-2 E8) tomorrow night at 7 p.m. on the Wright Stadium turf.
'Wick has had varied contributions offensively, but has been led by two-time Empire 8 First Team member Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central). Gagnon ranks first on the team in conference goals (eight), shots (47), and shots on goal (31), and also ranks in the top five in the conference in all of those categories. Two other Hawks also had more than ten points in Empire 8 play: Julie Ruzzi (High Falls, NY/Rondout Valley), with 14, and Holly Calore (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) with 11. Their defensive effort, which comfortably ranks second in the conference, has been headed up by Emily Strutt (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington), Faith Weaver (Clay, NY/Cicero North Syracuse), and Rebecca Peakes (West Chester, PA/Unionville), as well as goalkeeper Madison Maddocks (Garrison, NY/Walter Panas) and her 0.99 goals against average and .767 save percentage in conference play.
Utica's top two offensive producers are Sabrina Whitehouse and Sydney Scaccia, who have 28 and 23 conference points, respectively. Whitehouse is first in the conference in goals (12) and fourth in shots per game (5.83), while Scaccia is tied-tops in assists (seven), tied-third in goals (eight), and second in shots per game (6.00). Other big offensive weapons for the Pioneers are Madeline Krecidlo (15 points) and Shannon Jedreicich (15 points), who join Whitehouse and Scaccia in the top ten in several conference categories. Defensively, Utica has been led by Chloe Williams, who ranks second in the conference with four defensive saves, as well as Taylor Oliver, Jeslyn Files, Mackenzie Mix, Emily Frank, and Lexi Scaccia. Goalkeeper Megan Chamberlain has handled all but a half-hour of Empire 8 play in net, earning a 2.14 goals against average and .717 save percentage.
The Hawks were victorious in this season's meeting between the two teams, winning 4-2 in a wild affair under two weeks ago on October 20. The sides combined for 34 shots (17 apiece), 27 of which went on target, as well as eight different cards (four green, four yellow). Hartwick took a 3-0 lead after three quarters, scoring once in each stanza on goals from Leah Tolley (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon), Ashley Tricarico (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay), and Gagnon (from Ruzzi). Sydney Scaccia got one back early in the fourth, assisted by Whitehouse, but Ruzzi reestablished the three-goal advantage in the 54th minute off a Tolley corner. Whitehouse scored the game's final goal with zeroes on the scoreboard, assisted by Files after a corner.
The teams have met just once in postseason history, in the aforementioned Empire 8 Semifinals triumph for Hartwick in 2019. Utica took a lead in the sixth minute of that game before 'Wick tied it up early in the second quarter. Gagnon picked up the tying tally later on in the second quarter and then assisted on the goal that gave the Hawks a 3-1 lead in the 35th minute. The Pioneers picked up a penalty stroke goal in the fourth quarter but could not grab an equalizer in the minutes that remained. Hartwick went on to win their first ever Empire 8 title the next day, defeating Nazareth 2-1.
Tickets for Tuesday's games will cost $6 for the general public, $4 for students with ID, senior citizens (65+), and youth (12-17). Children 12 and under will be admitted for free. The cost of entry for Hartwick students and employees with ID will be covered, as well.
The winner of Tuesday's game advances to the Empire 8 Championship, which will be played against either #4 Nazareth or #1 St. John Fisher on Saturday, November 6, on the campus of the highest remaining seed.
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