THE BASICS

• Final Score: Nazareth 1 Hartwick 1

• Location: Rochester, N.Y. | Golden Flyer Stadium

• Records: Nazareth (2-2-2, 0-0-1 Empire 8) Hartwick (2-1-4, 0-0-2 Empire 8)
   

BY THE NUMBERS

• Nazareth was dominant in the offensive, tallying up 24 shots with half of them on goal. The Hawks would take 5, with 2 on goal. 

• Mikayla Piersa (Huntington, N.Y.) made an appearance back in goal after a brief absence, celebrating her return with 11 saves and overshadowing Nazareth's singular save.

• 'Wick garnered 1 corner kick per half, while Nazareth combined for a total of 10.

• The lone goal-scorer for the Hawks would be stand-out freshman Ella Grupe (Freehold, N.Y.), having snagged her first collegiate goal.

• This is the third consecutive draw against the Nazareth Golden Flyers, with Hartwick's most recent win being a 1-0 home win in 2022.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Nazareth was hot this game, posting five shots and two corner kicks within the first fourteen minutes of the game, though Piersa stood tall between the posts. However, a Nazareth goal came shortly later, just before the 15th minute to bring them into a 1-0 lead. Six more shots would come from the Golden Flyers before Grupe would put the first shot on the board for the Hawks, narrowly grazing the top woodwork. The first half would end with a shot from Calleigh Byron, though the Golden Flyers would still maintain their lead.

Play began to slow down slightly by the second half, with Hartwick maintaining more possession over the ball and Olivia Farnham (Millerton, N.Y.) taking a great high shot on goal, though the Naz goalkeeper would make the tricky save. Piersa was a brick wall to keep the Nazareth Golden Flyers at bay as the clock ticked down, with Mille Caldon doing her part to push the Hawks up the field and take a shot of her own.

Hope seemed lost for the Hawks as time ticked away and the threat of a conference loss loomed, but 'Wick soon proved that quality could prevail over quantity after Grupe utilized intense pressure to intercept a goalkeeper pass and net a memorable first collegiate goal in the 87th minute.

Despite a last minute corner kick and shot attempt from the Golden Flyers, the Hawks defense was mighty to force the draw.

COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH BRIAN KNAPP

"We knew it would be a tough match up today at Naz, as it always is with them. What I was looking for today was how we responded to Wednesday's result. The team showed again that it wouldn's stop until the clock hit 0:00. We talked about managing the game and how important it is to manage moments. Moments are what make games and it took a special one today. But that moment doesn't come without the tireless effort and positive mindset we kept throughout. We still have plenty to tidy up, but I couldn't be more proud once again of this amazing group."

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will continue their conference play stretch with a match against the SUNY Poly Wildcats at home on Wednesday, September 24th at 6 PM.

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.