ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Hartwick women's lacrosse team made the short trip up the hill to face the Red Dragons in the annual Battle of the Hills, falling to their cross-city rivals on Wednesday afternoon at Red Dragon Field.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Hartwick 5 Oneonta 9
Location: Oneonta, N.Y. | Red Dragon Field
Records: Hartwick (1-2, 0-0 Empire 8) • Oneonta (2-1, 0-0 SUNYAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Hartwick geared up for its annual Battle of the Hills matchup against the Red Dragons after defeating Oneonta last year in a back-and-forth thriller, marking the Hawks' first win over their local rivals since 2006.

Oneonta looked to avenge last season's heartbreaking loss and came out with intensity, scoring the game's first goal just three minutes in. Lily Dempsey (Glenville, N.Y.) quickly answered for the Hawks, finding the back of the net during a woman-up opportunity with 5:15 remaining in the quarter. Jackie Owens (Poughquag, NY) recorded her first collegiate assist on the play. Brooke Lynett (Acton, Mass.) was strong between the pipes, tallying seven saves in the opening frame and helping shut down the Red Dragon attack after the early score.

The Red Dragons responded in the second quarter, taking control with five unanswered goals. The Blue and White struggled to maintain possession and create offensive opportunities, managing just one shot in the period and heading into the halftime break trailing by five.

Defense dominated much of the third quarter, with neither side scoring for the first ten minutes before Oneonta broke the stalemate to extend its lead to 7-1 with 5:06 remaining. Hartwick capitalized on the Red Dragons' aggressiveness, earning multiple woman-up opportunities. Abby Skurka (Cumberland, RI) netted the Hawks' first goal of the half before Shea Holloway (Fort Johnson, NY) added another, as Hartwick scored two woman-up goals to build momentum heading into the final frame while trailing by four.

Hartwick continued to battle in the fourth, but Oneonta maintained possession and managed the clock effectively while protecting its lead. Back-to-back goals from the Red Dragons pushed the game further out of reach. Holloway added two more goals in the final ten minutes to secure her first collegiate hat trick, but the Hawks ultimately fell short as Oneonta claimed the Battle of the Hills victory.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will head back home for a 1pm draw against Framingham State on Saturday, March 7th at Wright Stadium.

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.