ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick field hockey team got back on track in Saturday afternoon's home game, downing visiting Manhattanville 4-0 via four first-half goals. The win moves the Hawks back to .500 at 2-2, while the Valiants drop to 0-6 on the year.
After an early Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) opportunity was saved, Julie Ruzzi (High Falls, NY/Rondout Valley) got the scoring started in the fifth minute with her first collegiate goal, via a Gagnon helper. Rebecca Peakes (West Chester, PA/Unionville) restarted play off a corner with a pass to Gagnon. Gagnon steadied the ball and moved it on over to Ruzzi for a hard, low shot that beat Valiant keeper Cat Morgan for the game's first goal.
Despite multiple good opportunities, the Hawks failed to extend their lead throughout the remainder of the first quarter and the start of the second. That all changed in a big way soon enough, however, starting with a Lex Matarazzo (Commack, NY/Commack) tally in the 23rd minute. Holly Calore's (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) shot was saved by Morgan but it came right to the stick of Matarazzo for the goal. Just 33 seconds later, Makenzie Kensel (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch) got one through the defense and by Morgan for her first score as a Hawk, making it 3-0. Ashley Tricarico (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) extended the 'Wick advantage out to four in the 29th minute, cleaning up the rebound of an Emily Schaub (Brewster, NY/Brewster) for her first collegiate goal.
The Hawks had a few excellent chances in the second half to add to their lead even further, many of which involved Calore. Perhaps the best, though, was a Gagnon effort in the 59th minute that needed a Caitlin Antinozzi defensive save to be saved from entering the cage.
Gagnon was her typical excellent self, leading all players with 10 shots. It is the fifth time in her Hartwick career that she has eclipsed the double-digit marker in shots. Schaub and Jessica Betts (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) were next up with four shots, while Calore, Matarazzo, Kensel, and Tricarico had three tries apiece. Madison Maddocks (Garrison, NY/Walter Panas) and Ashley Luppens (Wading River, NY/Shoreham Wading River) each took a half in goal, making two saves apiece for the team shutout.
Hartwick dominated the shot count, shooting 32 times to Manhattanville's seven. They also had a 15-4 advantage in shots on goal, and a 10 to 5 lead in penalty corners.
'Wick is back to it on Wednesday, when they host Union at 6 p.m.
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