ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Hawks kicked off the Mayor's Cup with an exciting 1-0 victory over the RPI Engineers this stormy afternoon.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: RPI 0 Hartwick 1

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

• Records: RPI (1-2, 0-0 Liberty League) Hartwick (2-0-1, 0-0 Empire 8)
   

BY THE NUMBERS

• This was the first time in over 7 years that the Hawks matched up against the Engineers in women's soccer, with the last results being a Hartwick 0-1 loss in 2018.

• The RPI Engineers would outshoot the Hawks 18-2 this game, though the Hawks would be the only scorers.

• Mikayla Piersa (Huntington, N.Y.) would snag her second career shutout as a starter in goal, as well as record a career-high 10 saves against the Engineers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams were hungry for a win on this rainy Saturday afternoon, hoping to assert their dominance in this Mayor's Cup matchup. It was Hartwick to strike first with a stellar unassisted goal by Millie Caldon (Gilmanton, N.H.) only 15 minutes into the match.

RPI would shoot 5 more times in the first half, though Mikayla Piersa (Huntington, N.Y.) was a brick wall, stopping 4 of them. Still, the Engineers were unable to score.

The Hawks defense would continue to hold the Engineers at bay going into the half, with Piersa saving more shots and the Hawks snagging possession whenever possible. Nelle Slavitsky (Conklin, N.Y.) was able to show off some speed and post one shot, though it would fly out over the top of the goal.

With less than 20 minutes remaining in the game, Caldon looked to get her second goal of the day on the board, but an RPI goalkeeper save would keep the Hawks at a one-goal lead. Despite their best efforts, the Engineers could not get a goal to tie the game, giving the Hawks their first victory of the Mayor's Cup and second overall this season.

COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH BRIAN KNAPP

"There's something to be said about a wet rainy game on Elmore. The team had some great moments, including a brilliant heads-up play to catch their keeper out, and a world-class finish from a tight angle. Moments like this are what can win games. But it's the defensive work and how hard we worked for each other that got us over the line. Every single player played a role today and I'm extremely proud of that commitment to each other for ninety minutes."

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will hope to build off of today's victory as they face off against Skidmore on Sunday, September 7th with a 12PM kickoff.

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.