ONEONTA, NY – Three goals from three different players gave the Hartwick field hockey team win number three on the season, as they defeated visiting Nazareth 3-0 on a cloudy, drizzly afternoon. The win, which came in the Hawks' final regular season game, improves their record to 3-1 and ensures that they will finish at least second in the Empire 8 standings and will host an Empire 8 Semifinal game as a result. The Golden Flyers are now 1-2 on the season and will host first-place St. John Fisher in their regular season finale a week from today on Sunday, April 18.
There was not much action around the cages for the bulk of the first quarter, as some nifty dribbling by Tegan Robinson (Mechanicville, NY/Shenendehowa) and a subsequent blocked shot over four minutes in was the only shot attempt in the first 13+ minutes of play. Goalkeeper Allyson Osborne (Nottingham, PA/Solanco) came out to make a sliding stop of a loose ball in space midway through the quarter, and Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) made a few nice moves with four-and-a-half minutes remaining and centered the ball across the goal mouth but there was no Hawk there to deposit the ball in. Gagnon took matters into her own hands in the 14th minute, as she knocked down a ball off the stick of Rebecca Peakes (West Chester, PA/Unionville) and slid it to the far post and in at 13:44 for the game's first tally.
'Wick had maybe their most impressive quarter from a possession perspective in the second, but it was also the only period in which they did not score a goal. Just under five minutes in Gagnon hit one hard and low that was pushed aside by goalkeeper Amanda Chuttey. The Golden Flyers did have one golden opportunity to tie the game with just under six minutes left in the half, but a midair cross was missed. Hartwick had back-to-back corners with under three minutes left that resulted in four shots, including three in quick succession after the second corner that all ended up saved by Chuttey. At halftime, the Hawks were comfortably outplaying their opponents but led just 1-0.
There was another period of a relative lack of action around the goal to begin the third quarter, but the Hawks made up for that by scoring on the period's first shot attempt. Peakes reentered the ball into play on a penalty corner at 35:50, and the ball eventually found Libby Fortin (State College, PA/State College Area) who pushed one right of the cage. Lex Matarazzo (Commack, NY/Commack) was there to stop the ball, however, and sent it to the middle of the goal where Halle Feane (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) poked the ball through a maze of sticks and in for her first collegiate goal at 35:59 for a 2-0 lead. The Golden Flyers had three solid chances to pull one back throughout the remainder of the third, but Osborne was up to the task and made all three saves. Nazareth also made a change at goalkeeper with 4:01 on the clock, as Jessica Holtz replaced Chuttey in net.
The visitors again had a chance to cut their deficit to one with under five minutes gone by in the fourth quarter, and this time the net was wide open for a goal. A cross across the front of the goal area was mishandled, however, and the Hawks quickly recovered to prevent a tally. Gagnon had two more excellent chances to add a third 'Wick goal, but one hard and low shot on the break in the 52nd minute was sent aside off the keeper's pads, and another hard try under two minutes later found the middle of the goalie's pads. Hartwick's third goal of the day came in the 55th minute on what can be characterized as a shot with a low expected goal value. Robinson was in the right corner of the offensive end and sent one in towards goal that somehow found its way into the back of the cage at 54:28, making the score 3-0. Nazareth had one more chance to break up the shutout with 20 seconds to go, but a hard shot from Caroline Desautels was padded aside by Osborne.
Gagnon was the day's offensive leader, as she led all players with seven shots (all on goal), one of which went in. Robinson was next with three shots, including her goal, while the only other Hawks to have more than one shot were Emily Strutt (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington) and Jackie Hughes (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) with two apiece. Osborne was up to the task when called upon, making five saves over 60 minutes in net for her second clean sheet of the season and 14th of her career.
The Hawks had a hefty 17-6 shot advantage on the day, inclusive of a 13-5 lead in shots on target. They also nearly tripled up the Golden Flyers in penalty corners, at 11-4.
'Wick will have to wait to find out their next opponent until the rest of the conference's teams finish out their regular season schedule, but they do know that they will be playing next on Friday, April 23 in the Empire 8 Semifinals at Wright Stadium.
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