UTICA, N.Y. – The Hartwick College men's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to Utica University Wednesday night at the Laura M. Casamento Track and Field Complex. Despite the Hawks outshooting their opponent by two shots and earning three more corners, the Pioneers came out with the victory.
Hartwick generated 20 shots on the night, including seven on target. Sophomore
Mariano Kool (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Swiss International Scientific School of Dubai) led the Hawks with five shots, while sophomore
Fischer Brogan (Ocean View, N.J./St. Augustine) added three shots, all of which were on goal.
Sophomore
Jelani Usim (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer Boys' School) made two saves over the first 45 minutes before junior
Nils Ole Petersen (Greiz, Germany/Ulf-Merbold-Gymanasium Greiz) took over in goal for the second half. Petersen turned aside five shots, giving Hartwick seven saves as a team.
Utica opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Jackson Petzoldt finished a cross from Carter Cookinham and Braeden Arias. The Pioneers doubled their lead just 9:44 into the second half when Arias scored off assists from Mao Nkurunziza and Joseph Cavallo.
Hartwick held a 20-18 advantage in shots and earned seven corner kicks compared to four for Utica. The Hawks also put seven shots on goal, but Utica goalkeeper Zachary Accetta turned aside each attempt.
Hartwick falls to 2-6-0 overall and 1-2-0 in Empire 8 play, while the Pioneers improve to 3-4-1 overall and 1-1-0 in conference action. The Hawks return home for a Saturday, Sept. 26 matchup with St. John Fisher at 3 p.m. at Elmore Field.
Hartwick came out with early pressure, earning a corner in the second minute before shots from Zachgo, Kool and Mount. Brogan put two shots on goal in the opening 16 minutes, but both were saved by Accetta. Junior
Joseph Allen (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) also had a shot stopped by the Utica defense before the Pioneers began creating opportunities of their own. Usim made two saves on early shots, while Utica's Carter Cookinham hit the left post in the 23rd minute. Jackson Petzoldt broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, heading home a cross from Cookinham and Arias. Hartwick continued to push late in the half, forcing Accetta to make two more saves.
Hartwick continued to attack early in the second half, earning a corner and generating shots from Mount and Kool. Utica, however, doubled its lead in the 55th minute when Arias finished a chance set up by Nkurunziza and Cavallo. The Hawks continued to create opportunities, and Petersen kept Hartwick within striking distance with five saves in the final 45 minutes, including stops on four Utica chances in the final 17 minutes. Senior
Nick Nowak (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River) also hit the crossbar in the 72nd minute as Hartwick continued to look for a way back into the match.
Petzoldt and Arias each scored for Utica, with Arias adding an assist. Cookinham finished with two assists, while Nkurunziza and Cavallo each added an assist. Accetta finished with six saves and a shutout.
