ALFRED, N.Y. - The Hartwick Women's Soccer team matched up with the Saxons under the lights, upending Alfred University in an important conference clash on Saturday evening at Yunevich Stadium.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Hartwick 2 Alfred 1

• Location: Alfred, N.Y. | Yunevich Stadium

• Records: Hartwick (8-3-5, 5-2-3 Empire 8) Alfred (6-9-2, 2-6-2 Empire 8)

BY THE NUMBERS

• Millie Caldon continues to be a dangerous threat in the final third, scoring her team-leading fourth goal.

• Lily Dempsey finds the back of the net for the first time this season, capturing her second career game-winner.

• After drawing in their last five meetings, the Hawks grabbed their first victory over the Saxons since 2018 and their first road triumph since 2017.

HOW IT HAPPENED
With the Hawks already having clinched a spot in the upcoming 2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament, Hartwick faced a hungry Alfred squad fighting to secure one of the final postseason berths.

The Saxons opened with early pressure, earning the first corner of the match just six minutes in. The Hawks' back line held firm, blocking a pair of shots before an Alfred foul relieved the danger. Hartwick flipped the momentum, quickly turning defense into attack. Ella Grupe (Freehold, N.Y.) tested the keeper in the 10th minute, setting the tone before Millie Caldon (Gilmanton, N.H.) struck from distance a minute later — a perfectly placed effort from outside the 18 that soared over the outstretched keeper for the opening goal.

Alfred pushed hard for an equalizer, stringing together back-to-back corners and forcing a key save from Mikayla Piersa (Huntington, N.Y.). Hartwick's offense settled in as the half progressed, generating a corner and a near-chance that was halted by an offsides call. The Saxons found their breakthrough in the 41st minute, converting off their sixth corner of the half to even the match heading into the break.

After halftime, the Blue and White wasted no time reclaiming control. In the 48th minute, Jenna Mierek (Prospect, Conn.) threaded a pinpoint pass into the box to Dahlia Landry (Manhattan, N.Y.), who drew two defenders before slipping it across to Lily Dempsey (Glenville, N.Y.) for a composed finish — putting the Hawks back on top, 2–1.

The remainder of the match saw Hartwick's defense dig deep. Piersa and her back line weathered several dangerous spells from the Saxons, blocking multiple shots and clearing threats with urgency. Alfred's final look in the closing seconds was denied by Grupe, sealing the win for the Hawks and preserving another strong conference performance.

COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH BRIAN KNAPP
"We knew what we were going to get from Alfred, they are as direct as it gets and press you hoping to capitalize on mistakes and set pieces. We got a great goal early and hoped we could control it from there but credit to them for being relentless and never letting us fully settle into the game. Tight games like this come down to special moments and finishing opportunities and we were able to put away two great goals. We hadn't won away at Alfred since 2017, which goes to show how much this group has grown. I couldn't be more proud of them, we'll enjoy this and quickly move our focus to our last regular season game Wednesday on Elmore!"

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will prepare for their regular season contest, hosting Russell Sage for a 6PM 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.