ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Hartwick Women's Lacrosse team opened Empire 8 play against a tough Geneseo squad, dropping their conference opener to the Knights on a snowy Saturday afternoon at Wright Stadium.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Geneseo 15 Hartwick 5
Location: Oneonta, N.Y. | Wright Stadium
Records: Geneseo (3-3, 1-0 Empire 8) • Hartwick (1-4, 0-1 Empire 8)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hartwick geared up for its conference opener, hosting the Geneseo Knights for the first time as Empire 8 foes. The Knights finished as conference runner-up in their Empire 8 debut season.
Frigid temperatures were felt throughout the contest as Adelyn Esce (Cicero, NY) snagged the opening draw to begin the conference clash. Geneseo struck first with a goal at the 12:05 mark before adding another at 9:54. Maura Donoghue (Paramus, N.J.) put the Hawks on the scoreboard, evading her defender and finishing strong in front of goal.
Geneseo answered with a free-position tally before Donoghue responded with her second goal of the quarter, this time converting on a feed from Esce. The opening frame remained tightly contested, with both teams executing at a high level and leaving little room for mistakes. Geneseo added another free-position goal late in the quarter to take a 4-2 lead after one.
The Hawks turned to leading scorer Parker Laurin (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) to spark the offense in the second quarter, and Laurin delivered, scoring through heavy defensive pressure at the 13:35 mark. Hartwick stayed aggressive as the first-year tandem of Esce and Shea Johnson (Fort Johnson, NY) connected for a goal, with Esce finding the back of the net for her first tally of the day.
Geneseo regained the lead, but Lily Dempsey (Glenville, N.Y.) answered just 30 seconds later to tie the contest at five. Both teams continued to battle for control as the Hawks' defense repeatedly held off Geneseo pressure despite being outshot 12-4 in the quarter. The Knights eventually broke the tie, capitalizing on a failed clearance with 1:28 remaining to take a one-goal lead into halftime.
Hartwick looked to even the score early in the second half but struggled to solve a stout Geneseo defense that debuted a new formation and a fresh goalkeeper in the cage. The Knights began to build momentum offensively, scoring three goals in the third quarter while holding the Hawks scoreless.
Geneseo continued to control the tempo in the fourth quarter, producing its strongest offensive stretch with six goals. Hartwick was unable to recover from the second-half surge, ultimately falling to the Knights in its Empire 8 opener.
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will head to Florida for the Spring Fling tournament, facing off against Keene State on March 17th 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.
