ONEONTA, NY – Just like the last time these two teams met, the Hartwick field hockey team went down 1-0 to Utica and ended up with a victory. This time was not an Empire 8 Semifinal matchup (although another one of those may well be coming in a couple weeks), but nevertheless one goal in the third quarter and another with under six minutes to go in the fourth lifted the Hawks to a 2-1 victory in their home opener over the Pioneers. The win brings the Hawks' overall and conference record to 2-1, and puts them in the driver's seat to host a Semifinal matchup, while the Pioneers are now 1-2.
The game started out sleepy, with most of the play in Utica's offensive end but no shots for either side until Emily Strutt (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington) sent one wide off a corner at 6:26. Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) nearly scored a cheeky goal just over a minute later at 7:28, but her backhanded effort went just wide of the far post. The Hawks earned another corner in the 11th minute and this time it was Leah Tolley's (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) turn to shoot wide, which she did by deflecting a bouncing shot from further out in the circle. Utica finally got their first two shots of the game off of a corner in the waning seconds of the quarter, but the first was blocked and Allyson Osborne (Nottingham, PA/Solanco) was up to the task on the second, saving it out of play to end the period.
Lex Matarazzo (Commack, NY/Commack) had two chances on a rush in the 20th minute, both saved by Utica's Megan Chamberlain. The Pioneers scored against the flow of play on the game's next shot, as Sabrina Whitehouse's shot off a corner was deflected in by Jeslyn Files. 'Wick had a couple dangerous chances to score after winning a corner at 22:08, but a shot from Libby Fortin (State College, PA/State College Area) was saved and a Tolley effort was lifted wide of the cage. At the break, the visitors led 1-0.
The Hawks had a gorgeous chance to knot the game coming right out of halftime, when Gagnon was sprung on a breakaway in the first minute of the third. Her shot was stopped by a charging Chamberlain, though, and the Hawks could not score on three consecutive corners after that. 'Wick finally got on board with their 15th shot of the day in the 41st minute. Val Palmeri (Endwell, NY/Maine Endwell) nutmegged a Utica defender, drove in towards the goal, and crossed one to Gagnon who swiped it into the yawning cage at 40:28, tying the game at one-all.
Each team registered one shot in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. Hartwick's eventual game-winner had to wait until the 55th minute, however, on a broken play after a penalty corner. The ball came to Tolley at the left post and she sent it across the center of the goal where Fortin found it at 54:07 for the tap-in. The tally was the first of Fortin's collegiate career, and it could not have come at a more important time. Gagnon had a chance to ice the game under two minutes later on the breakaway but sent it wide of the cage. The Hawks were able to stifle the Pioneers for the remainder of the contest and escape with a one-goal win.
As she often does, Gagnon led all players in shots with nine overall and five on target (as well as her goal). Tolley had four shots to go with her assist, while Fortin's goal came on three shots (two on target). Matarazzo also had three shots, all of which were on goal. Osborne did not have much work to do in net but did it well, making one save over 60 minutes.
The Hawks massively outshot the Pioneers on the day, 23-4 (including 14-2 on goal). They also had a large advantage in penalty corners earned, at 13-3.
'Wick can clinch home-field advantage in the Empire 8 Semifinals with a win this coming Sunday, April 11, as they host Nazareth at 2 p.m.
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