KEUKA PARK, N.Y. - The Hartwick Women's Soccer team picked up their first road triumph this season, taking down the Wolves in a conference thriller on Saturday afternoon at Keuka College.

THE BASICS

• Final Score:  Hartwick 2 Keuka 1

• Location: Keuka Park, N.Y. | Jephson Community Athletic Center

• Records: Hartwick (5-2-4, 2-1-2 Empire 8) Keuka (0-7-3, 0-4-1 Empire 8) 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Ella Grupe was stellar on the pitch, collecting an assist and netting her first collegiate game-winner.

• The Hawks return to the win column against the Keuka Wolves, going 0-1-3 in their previous four matchups.

• Mikayla Piersa continues to be rock solid in between the posts, sitting at 3rd in the Empire 8 with an 88% save percentage.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hartwick Women's Soccer team picked up its first conference road victory of the season in dramatic fashion, defeating Keuka 2-1 behind an 89th-minute game-winner from Ella Grupe (Freehold, N.Y.).

The Wolves opened with early pressure, forcing two shots in the opening six minutes, but goalkeeper Mikayla Piersa (Huntington, N.Y.) stood tall with a key save before the Hawk defense locked in, holding Keuka without a shot for the rest of the first half. On the attacking side, Millie Caldon (Gilmanton, N.H.) and Grupe helped drive the Blue and White forward, combining for eight first-half shots, though the Hawks couldn't find the breakthrough and went into halftime scoreless.

After the break, Jenna Mierek (Prospect, Conn.) nearly put Hartwick ahead with a powerful strike off the crossbar in the 49th minute. Instead, Keuka struck first, breaking through in the 59th minute to grab a 1-0 lead.

The Hawks quickly responded with persistence and precision. Grupe weaved through the final third and slipped a perfect pass to Dahlia Landry (Manhattan, N.Y.), who buried the one-timer in the 66th minute to level the match. From there, Hartwick kept pressing, controlling possession and creating chances while holding Keuka to just one off-target shot in the final 24 minutes.

With less than two minutes remaining, Caldon sparked the decisive sequence, winning the ball at midfield and threading a pass to Grupe just outside the 18. Grupe showcased her fancy footwork, beating her defender before drilling the winner into the bottom left corner to complete the comeback.

Behind strong defensive discipline and Grupe's late-game magic, Hartwick secured a thrilling 2-1 road win to move to 2-1-2 in conference play.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will prepare to defend home field against the Elmira Soaring Eagles on Wednesday, October 8th at 4PM.

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.