GENESEO, N.Y. – The Hartwick Men's Lacrosse team opened Empire 8 play on Saturday afternoon, falling to Geneseo on the road in its conference opener.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Hartwick 6 Geneseo 11
Location: Geneseo, N.Y. | College Stadium
Records: Hartwick (0-7, 0-1 Empire 8) • Geneseo (5-3, 1-0 Empire 8)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks opened their Empire 8 slate against the Knights, marking just the second meeting between the programs as conference opponents. Geneseo claimed the first matchup last season, 12-5, at Wright Stadium.

Geneseo struck early at the 13:38 mark of the first quarter and used that momentum to build a 7-0 lead. Turnovers and a slow start put Hartwick in an early hole before Colin August (Garrison, N.Y.) broke through with 3:50 remaining in the opening frame, converting on a second effort after scooping up a ground ball. The Hawks generated a pair of late chances but trailed 7-1 after one.

Spencer Hogaboom (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) opened the second quarter scoring at 12:29 as Hartwick settled in on both ends. The defense delivered one of its strongest stretches of the season, holding the Knights to just six shots in the quarter and keeping them off the scoreboard. Despite firing 17 shots, the Hawks added just one more goal, as August found the net again at 6:46. Hartwick entered halftime trailing 7-3 but with momentum shifting in its favor.

August continues his strong senior campaign, completing the hat trick in the third quarter at 10:47 to cut the deficit to three. After being held scoreless for over 20 minutes, Geneseo responded with three straight goals to regain control and carried that momentum into the final quarter.

Hartwick showed fight early in the fourth, as August netted his fourth goal of the day in the opening minute. The Knights answered with their final tally with nine minutes remaining and tightened defensively down the stretch. Mason Adams (Delmar, N.Y.) added a late goal with six minutes to play, but the Hawks could not complete the comeback.

Kaiden Johnson (Wakefield, Mass.) was strong in goal, making 23 saves. August and Colby Simonetti (Pittsford, N.Y.) each recorded four ground balls in the effort.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will return to Wright Stadium, hosting the Brockport Golden Eagles at 3PM on Saturday, March 28th.

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.