ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Hawks secured their first win of the season at home against the Morrisville Mustangs after previously coming off a tie last week.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: SUNY Morrisville 0 Hartwick 3

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

• Records: SUNY Morrisville (0-1-1, 0-0 SUNYAC) Hartwick (1-0-1, 0-0 Empire 8)
   

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Hawks would try for every scoring opportunity during this game, outshooting the Mustangs 17-1.

• 'Wick also managed 11 corners throughout the game, 6 of which were in the second half. SUNY Morrisville, on the other hand, would only manage 1 corner in the whole match.

• 7 different Hawks recorded shots on goal tonight.

• This win for Hartwick marks their 4th win in the last 5 matchups against the Mustangs, only tying them 2-2 in 2022.

• Sophomore goalkeeper Mikayla Piersa (Huntington, N.Y.) would notch 1 save and also snag both her first collegiate shutout and first collegiate win as a starter in goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hartwick Hawks set the tone for the Tuesday night matchup under the lights early, dominating the offensive end for nearly the entirety of the first half. The first goal of the night would come less than three minutes into the game, a rocket by sophomore  Sara Moore (East Granby, Conn.) that sailed over the head of the Morrisville goalkeeper.

Morrisville struggled to gain momentum back as the Hawks put 3 shots on goal within the first 20 minutes. The closest was from Addyson Galuski (Waterford, N.Y.) whose shot was blocked by a Morrisville defender.

Nearly thirty minutes into the game, Hartwick would earn their third corner kick of the game. Sophomore Ella Weber (Lenhartsville, Pa.) would quickly capitalize on the opportunity and find the back of the net to bring the Hawks' lead to two. The first glimmer of hope for the Mustangs was a few minutes later, when they were able to post a shot on goal, though Piersa would shut them out with a nice save. Multiple consecutive throw-ins and free kicks for the Hawks kept them on the offensive, though the Mustangs' defense would keep the Hawks at bay for the rest of the first half.

The Hawks' goal streak only continued as Reilly Groff (Monroe, N.Y.) was able to sneak one past the goalkeeper off a rebound in the box two minutes after the second half began. From there, Morrisville would begin to gain some possession opportunities, but they were overshadowed by a dominant offensive push where 'Wick sent seven more shots towards the goalkeeper. Despite no more goals in the second half, the Hawks ended the day with an impressive 3-0 win, their first of the season.

COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH BRIAN KNAPP

"I'm very pleased with how we played today. We talked about valuing the ball and enjoying having it. We did that well and created some quality combinations that led to scoring opportunities. We found the back of the net a few times, but also defended well as a team getting another clean sheet. We'll build from today's result and start preparing for what will be a very competitive Mayor's Cup this weekend."

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will be competing in the Mayor's Cup this upcoming weekend at home, with their first matchup slated for a 12PM start time against the RPI Engineers on Saturday, September 6th.

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.