ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick field hockey team dropped a tough one at home on Saturday afternoon, succumbing to the University of Rochester on a goal with just under four minutes to go. The win bumps the Yellowjackets up to 2-0, while the Hawks are now 1-1.
As in 'Wick's first game against RPI, the first quarter was pretty quiet (although there was a bit more action this time around). Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) and Leah Tolley (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) had a couple hard shots go wide early but the game remained scoreless after 15 minutes.
The second stanza had a bit more going on. Rochester earned their first corner of the game early on, and the subsequent action saw a scramble in front of the net. Somehow, the Hawks kept the ball out (although the Yellowjackets did receive another corner as a result). The visitors' Juney Lee also hit the post on the short side not long after that, nearly beating Hawks' keeper Madison Maddocks (Garrison, NY/Walter Panas). 'Wick's best chance for the remainder of the half came off the stick of Emily Strutt (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington), who lofted one high off of a corner that was blockered up and over the cage by Yellowjackets' goalkeeper Abigail Walrond. At the half, the scoreboard still read 0-0.
The action picked up even more after the break. About midway through the third, Hartwick's Makenzie Kensel (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch) had a great chance off a corner but put it just wide. Rochester's Nikki Mercer had her point-blank shot saved by Maddocks with about four-and-a-half minutes to go, and off the resulting corner Amanda Strenk's effort found the back of the cage but was whistled down as a high shot. With just under 90 seconds to go, Tolley sprung Gagnon on a break but her hard shot went wide.
The guests firmly took control of the game in the final stanza, generally having the better of play while outshooting 'Wick 2-0 and outearning them 4-0 in corners. They finally broke through in the 57th minute, when Mercer's deflected shot off the crossbar bounced down to the stick of Delainey Hibble for the juicy rebound tally. The Hawks had one more try in the dying minutes but play was whistled dead for a kick.
Julie Ruzzi (High Falls, NY/Rondout Valley) led 'Wick with three shots (two on target). Gagnon was the only other Hawk with more than one shot, with a pair of tries. Maddocks played all 60 minutes in net, making six saves.
Rochester had the slim lead in shots, at 11 to 9, and also led in corners 9 to 6.
'Wick is back to it on Wednesday, September 8 for rivalry day, as they travel the short distance to SUNY Oneonta for a 5 p.m. battle.
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