UTICA, N.Y. - The Hartwick Men's Soccer team traveled to the campus of SUNY Poly, taking down the host Wildcats for their first Empire 8 conference victory on Wednesday afternoon.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Hartwick 1 SUNY Poly 0

• Location: Utica, N.Y. | Wildcat Field

• Records: Hartwick (2-5-1,1-2 Empire 8) Poly (2-6-1, 0-2 Empire 8)

BY THE NUMBERS 

• The Hawks even the all-time series with the Poly Wildcats, picking up their first win in program history.

• Devin Chandler (Wylie, Tex.) collects his fifth assist on the season, currently sitting at second in the Empire 8.

• Jelani Usim (Kingston, Jamaica) picks up his first career clean sheet in between the posts, securing his first career collegiate victory in goal.
   

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hawks looked to bounce back after a tough home loss to Nazareth, squaring off against a Poly Wildcats squad also searching for its first conference win.

The match opened with plenty of physicality as Hartwick picked up a yellow card just five minutes in. The Blue and White quickly shifted momentum, with Hunter Bulich (Catskill, N.Y.) and Devin Chandler both testing the Poly keeper inside the opening ten minutes. The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Chandler launched a long throw into the box that found Kwame Amissah-Arthur (Federal Way, Wash.). Rising above the traffic, Amissah-Arthur nodded home the lone goal of the contest to give the Hawks the early advantage.

The game settled into a defensive grind from there, with both sides trading fouls and battling in the midfield. Hartwick generated more chances after the break, doubling Poly's two-shot output but unable to find a finishing touch. Wilson Mount (Atlanta, Ga.) forced a save in the 58th, while Bulich and Chandler were denied in the 66th and 81st minutes, respectively. Poly nearly stole an equalizer in the closing moments, but goalkeeper Jelani Usim stood tall to preserve the lead.

The Hawks would hold firm until the final whistle, sealing their first conference victory of the season with a gritty 1–0 result.
 

COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH JOHN SCOTT

"Tonight was an absolute battle and we're so happy to have secured the win. Well done to the team for standing strong and getting this win."

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will head to SUNY Brockport for a 4PM matchup against the Golden Eagles on Saturday, September 27th.

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.