Hartwick Routs Mount Saint Mary in Opener
ONEONTA, NY - Fourteen Hartwick players made it into the scoring column on Wednesday as the Hawks rolled over visiting Mount Saint Mary College, 24-4, in the season opener for both teams. The 20-goal margin of the victory is the largest for the Hawks since a 28-4 win over Centenary in 2004.
Freshman Brian Finnegan (East Northport, NY/Northport), who was playing in his first collegiate game, led the Hawks with five goals and an assist. Sophomore Harry Hughes (Holtsville, NY/Sachem East) added four goals and an assist, and classmate Joe Shields (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) notched three goals and two helpers.
Hartwick controlled the game from the opening face-off. Two goals each from Hughes and Finnegan helped 'Wick to a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Five different Hawks tallied in the second quarter as the hosts led by an 11-0 margin at halftime.
After five more Hawk goals, Mount Saint Mary broke up the shutout bid with 5:59 left in the third quarter. The Knights would score three of the next six goals to make it a 19-4 game, but the Blue and White scored the last five goals of the game for the final 24-4 margin.
The Hawks outshot the Knights 56-12 in the game and won the ground ball battle, 55-15. 'Wick also won 25-of-32 face-offs.
Freshman Nick Triano (North Andover, MA/St. Johns Prep) recorded the victory in goal. He was called upon to make just one save. Classmate Phil Schaefer (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North) added a goal and notched a game-high four assists.
Pat Connolly (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) contributed two tallies on the day, and >Jesse Grimm (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East), Max Schermerhorn (Concord, MA/Duxbury), Ian Skudin (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach), and Mike Vaglica (Newton, MA/Newton North) each notched a goal and an assist. Grimm also won 18 face-offs and recorded a game-high 11 ground balls.
The Knights were led by Andrew Pullen's two goals. Nick Findlay added a goal and one helper. Oneonta native Shawn Cobstill recorded 17 saves in the MSMC goal.