ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick men's soccer team nabbed perhaps their most impressive win yet of the young season on Saturday, picking off a St. Lawrence team just a couple seasons removed from the NCAA Tournament by a 1-0 score on the opening day of the 45th Oneonta Mayor's Cup. The win bumps the Hawks up to 3-1, matching their win total from last season in 2019, while the Saints take their first loss of the year and also move to 3-1. Hartwick is also now 3-0 on the Elmore grass, and have not conceded a goal at home yet this season.
The day's only goal came early on as birthday boy Matteo Sweet (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham Wading River) tallied on the 23rd minute. After Jake Zona's (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) effort from close on was forced out of the box, Sweet came on and pinged one off the crossbar and in from about 20 yards out.
St. Lawrence's best second-half effort to equalize came in the 73rd minute. A ball in the box left the Hartwick net exposed, and Kyle Graber sent one that seemed destined for the back of the net. Nik Heasley (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls) had something to say about that, however, as he cleared the ball off the line and out of danger.
It seemed that the Hawks might have iced the game in the 77th minute, when a cross from the left side of the box appeared to have been redirected by Peter Crawford's (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) head and in. The referee saw otherwise, though, and waved the goal off for a handball. Crawford received a yellow card for his troubles.
Zona led all Hawks with three shots, while Sweet and Tyler Muir (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) had two tries apiece. Jodi Johnson (Seaford, DE/Sussex Technical) went three-for-three in home clean sheets, making two saves for the shutout.
Shots were nearly even, as the Saints held just an 11-10 advantage in the category. They held a more significant lead in corners earned, at 8 to 2.
'Wick is right back to it tomorrow, as they take on Clarkson at 3:30 p.m. with potential Mayor's Cup glory on the line.
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