ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick women's soccer team is looking for some redemption in multiple ways come Tuesday, as they host Utica on the Elmore grass for the second time in four days in the Empire 8 First Round. The fifth-seeded Pioneers (4-3-1, 13 points) defeated the fourth-seeded Hawks (4-2-2, 14 points) 1-0 in the regular season finale on Saturday, clinching their own playoff spot and relegating the Hawks to the fourth seed down from second.
'Wick has had a diverse offensive attack, with 14 different Hawks finding the net through the course of the year. The most prolific Hawks have been Gianna Cacciola (Wading River, NY/Shoreham Wading River), Madi McGuire (Goshen, NY/Goshen), Julia Collado (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon), and Nicole Casab (Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor). Cacciola and Collado lead the Hawks with two goals and two assists in conference play. Defensively, Casab, Lexie Thompson (Schenectady, NY/Niskayuna), Nicole Conway (Chester, NY/Monroe-Woodbury), Stella Giustino (Monroe Township, NY/Monroe Township), and Arianna Alvarez (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches) have headed up a Hartwick back line that ranks second in the Empire 8 with six goals allowed. Goalkeeper Sara Staup (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) has done all the conference netminding for the Hawks, allowing 0.71 goals per game on a .857 save percentage.
Utica has been led by the dynamic Ro Hernandez, who despite missing a pair of conference matchups led the Pioneers with nine points on four goals and an assist on Empire 8 play. She ranks third in the conference in shots per game (3.17) and fourth in goals per game (.67). Sydney Cook has also been a prominent offensive contributor for Utica, with six conference points, and Jacinta Kaminski (seven points, third in the Empire 8 with three assists) and Kaela Mochak (five points) have been important to the Pioneer attack as well. The Utica back line is led by Natalia Gerena, Sophia Bell, and Samantha Buley, having averaged 1.38 goals against in Empire 8 play. Courtney Connolly has done all the conference goalkeeping for the Pioneers, putting up a .841 save percentage.
Utica has had the upper hand in recent times against Hartwick. Just three days ago, they downed the Hawks 1-0 on a sixth-minute Ro Hernandez tally, securing a spot in tonight's game. The Pioneers also defeated the Hawks in the 2019 Empire 8 Championship on Elmore Field, as despite being outshot 14-2 they eked out a win on Cook's 81st minute winner.
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 Semifinal, which will be played at #1 Nazareth on Thursday, November 4.
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