ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Hartwick women's soccer program will return to the Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament for the first time since 2022, having clinched the #4 spot in regular season play.

 

Led by Head Coach Brian Knapp, the Hawks posted an impressive 8-3-6 record overall and a 5-2-4 record in Empire 8 conference play to conclude their regular season. On the road, the Royal Blue and White were near perfect with a 3-0-3 record, never dropping a match.

 

"We had a good feeling about the group coming into this fall, knowing the hard work the returners put in in the offseason– not just physically, but on the mental side as well. We also added a great group of first-years who we knew would make an immediate impact. As a program, we wanted to really focus on the power of unity within our group. We talked about how much stronger we are as a unified family, working as hard as we can for each other. We stressed the 'we over me' mindset and then focused on each of our individual commitments to ourselves and to the team that would help us reach our goals," says Knapp. "To see this group really buy into those concepts and make it part of the program's pillars has been what has impressed me the most. The team knows that actions speak louder than words and we wanted to embody that with everything we do, both on the field and off."

 

Rookie Ella Grupe (Freehold, N.Y.) made an impact in her first year with the Hawks, leading the team in points with 3 goals and 4 assists. Returner Millie Caldon (Gilmanton, N.H.) was also an asset to the Hawks in their regular season triumphs, as she would lead the Hawks with 4 goals, as well as pick up an assist.

 

Sophomore Mikayla Piersa (Huntington, N.Y.) would also hold down the defensive unit as starting goalkeeper this season, earning herself a total of 65 saves for a .867 save percentage.

 

"I've been so impressed with this groups' ability to come together and be contagious in their pursuit of excellence. Every single player, no matter what their individual role has been all season, has shown they have a tremendous amount of heart. To be able to go from missing playoffs the last two seasons, to hosting a first round playoff game is an incredible accomplishment," Knapp adds. "But just like after every game we've had so far, we know the job's not done. We're looking forward to the next step in our journey and hope to see a lot of people out to support at Elmore on Saturday."

 

The Hawks will next face off against #5 Utica in the first round at home on Saturday, November 1st, at 1:00 PM.

 

Tournament Schedule

Saturday, November 1st – First Round

• #8 Alfred at #1 Brockport – TBA

• #7 Houghton at #2 St. John Fisher – TBA

• #6 Geneseo at #3 Nazareth – 1:00 PM

• #5 Utica at #4 Hartwick  – 1:00 PM

Wednesday, November 5th – Semifinals

• Winner of Brockport / Alfred vs. Winner of Hartwick / Utica – TBA (at higher seed)

• Winner of Houghton / St. John Fisher vs Winner of Geneseo / Nazareth – TBA (at higher seed)

Saturday, November 8th – Finals

• Winner of Semifinal 1 vs Winner of Semifinal 2 – TBA (at highest remaining seed)

 

Per Empire 8 policy, there will be a charge for admission to all contests. 

• Adults - $6

• Students and Seniors with ID - $4

• Children under 12 - Free 

Full details will be posted on both the Empire 8 website and the Hartwick College Athletics website as they become available.

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.