Hartwick Downs Fisher 2-1; Hawks Tied for First in Empire 8
PITTSFORD, NY - First-half goals from senior Anna Drake (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and sophomore Hiliary Carlson (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) held up as Hartwick field hockey defeated St. John Fisher 2-1 on Saturday. The win ups the Hawks overall record to 5-6 and their Empire 8 mark to 3-1. Hartwick, which is now in a four-way tie for first place with Utica, Washington & Jefferson, and Stevens in the conference standings, has won three straight games.
St. John Fisher (1-10, 0-4 E8), which is in its first season of Division III competition, held the upper hand in terms of shots, 4-2, in the opening 24 minutes. The Hawks, however, would get on the scoreboard first as Carlson scored for the third time this season. Freshman Abby Wentlent (Greene, NY/Greene) set up the goal with a pass between her legs allowing Carlson to finish past Cardinal goalie Kellie Redmond.
Fisher fought right back, tying the score just 4:57 later. Liz Baldwin played the ball across the goal to teammate Marissa Vadella and she collected the ball and buried it past Hartwick keeper Megan Campbell (Rutland, MA/Wachusett Regional) for a 1-1 game.
Hartwick needed only three minutes and 16 seconds to find the game-winner. Drake tallied unassisted with 2:50 left on the first-half clock for her third career goal and the Hawks were in front to stay.
St. John Fisher held a 13-7 edge in shots in the match. Campbell, however, kept the Cardinals out as she stopped five shots in the second half alone. She closed the game with seven saves. Redmond made one save for Fisher.
Hartwick has now won four of its last five games.