ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Hartwick Women's Soccer team hosted the Russell Sage Gators in their regular season finale, battling to a scoreless draw on Wednesday evening on Elmore Field.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Russell Sage 0 Hartwick 0

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

• Records: Russell Sage (5-9-2, 3-6-2 Empire 8) Hartwick(8-3-6, 5-2-4 Empire 8)

BY THE NUMBERS

• Mikayla Piersa (Huntington, N.Y.) continues her stellar sophomore campaign, collecting her 10th clean sheet.

• Millie Caldon led the Hawk attack, generating six shots on the night.

• Hartwick's offensive unit worked hard all match despite the draw, posting 20 shots and nine corners with 16 shots and eight corners coming in the second half.

HOW IT HAPPENED
With a postseason berth already secured, the Hartwick Hawks hosted the Russell Sage Gators on Wednesday afternoon in their regular season finale. The Gators entered the match needing a win to clinch the final Empire 8 playoff spot, while a Hartwick victory paired with a Geneseo loss would have secured a home quarterfinal for the Blue and White.

The opening half proved to be a defensive battle as both sides fought to execute with postseason implications on the line. Millie Caldon (Gilmanton, N.H.) generated the first look of the match in the sixth minute, missing just wide. The Gators responded with a corner in the 14th minute and their lone shot of the game in the 15th, a volley that sailed right of goal.

Hartwick began to find its rhythm midway through the half. Nelle Slavitsky (Conklin, N.Y.) worked her way into the box and fired a shot that slipped past the keeper but missed just wide, while Ella Grupe (Freehold, N.Y.) registered the first shot on goal for either side in the 21st minute. The Hawks kept up the pressure with a 34th-minute corner and a late look from Dahlia Landry (Manhattan, N.Y.), but the teams entered halftime scoreless.

Determined to break through, Hartwick dominated possession in the second half, outshooting the Gators 16–0 and earning eight corners. Lily Dempsey (Glenville, N.Y.) opened the offensive surge with an early attempt in the 47th minute as the Hawks continued to pepper the Sage defense. Despite controlling the pace and creating chance after chance, Hartwick was unable to convert.

Defensively, Trinity Irizarry (Greenwood Lake, N.Y.) and Olivia Farnham (Millerton, N.Y.) anchored a rock-solid back line, denying every Gator advance. Irizarry made a key slide tackle in the box to preserve the shutout, while captain Jenna Mierek (Prospect, Conn.) helped sustain attacking momentum in the midfield, creating several late opportunities.

Despite a dominant second half, the Hawks were forced to settle for a scoreless draw to close out the regular season.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will prepare for the first round of the Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament, hosting the No.5 Utica University Pioneers at 1PM on Saturday, November 1st on Elmore Field.

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.