ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Hartwick Men's Soccer team went head to head with the Saxons of Alfred University, securing their spot in the 2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Tournament with a 1-0 triumph on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Alfred 0 Hartwick 1

• Location: Oneonta, N.Y. | Elmore Field

• Records: Alfred (4-9-3, 2-5-3 Empire 8) Hartwick (5-8-2, 4-5-1Empire 8)

BY THE NUMBERS

• First year defender Mathieu Six continues to make an impact all over the pitch, scoring his team-leading fourth goal.

• Devin Chandler keeps his elite playmaking ability on display, extending his conference lead with his ninth assist.

• With the victory, the Hawks have clinched their fourth consecutive appearance in the Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Before the contest, the Hawks honored their six seniors — Alex Norgeot (Cohasset, Mass.), Will Napierala (Endwell, N.Y.), Timmy McQueeney (Wading River, N.Y.), Kwame Amissah-Arthur (Federal Way, Wash.), Terriek Brown (Greene, N.Y.), and Kyle Riegel (Owego, N.Y.) — a special group as the first class in program history to make the Empire 8 postseason in all four years of their careers.

The Hawks suited up for an important conference matchup against Alfred University, with both teams eyeing a playoff-clinching result. Hartwick entered the day needing either a win or a result Wednesday at Sage to secure a tournament spot.

Alfred applied early pressure, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to create a dangerous sequence, but goalkeeper Jelani Usim (Kingston, Jamaica) came up huge with a pair of reaction saves before captain Will Napierala cleared the third attempt off the goal line to keep things level. Hunter Bulich (Catskill, N.Y.) nearly broke through minutes later, sending a header just wide off a beautiful delivery from Devin Chandler (Wylie, Tex.).

Usim continued his first-half brilliance with key stops in the 29th and 37th minutes to preserve the clean sheet, while Napierala tested the Saxons keeper from range before Bulich narrowly missed again to close a scoreless half.

Hartwick carried that defensive intensity into the second half and found their breakthrough in the 51st minute. The Empire 8's leader in assists, Devin Chandler, showcased his precision once more, whipping in a perfect corner that was flicked on by Bulich and finished with authority by Mathieu Six (Antwerp, Belgium) for the eventual game-winner.

The match's physicality ramped up as both sides pushed for a late goal, but the Hawks' back line and Usim held firm. Alfred's final effort in the closing seconds was secured comfortably by Usim, sealing a well-earned clean sheet and crucial conference victory.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will prepare for their regular season contest, heading to Russell Sage for a 4PM matchup against the Gators on Wednesday, October 29th.

About Hartwick College:

Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.