Hartwick Earns 3-0 Victory at Vassar
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Hartwick's field hockey team got off to a strong start to the 2011 season downing Vassar College on the road by a final score of 3-0 on Thursday in Poughkeepsie. It marked the third straight year Hartwick has begun the season with a win against the Brewers.
Four different players tallied at least a point for 'Wick, led by junior Meghan Sweeney's (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) two goals. Freshman Abby Wentlent (Greene, NY/Greene added a goal and an assist and earned the game-winning tally.
The Hawks dominated the early going of the game as they fired five shots and took two penalty corners in the opening seven minutes of action. Wentlent nearly picked up the opening goal 5:51 into the contest as she rang a shot of the Vassar post.
The tide turned over the next several minutes of the half as the Brewers had the better of the scoring chances. Vassar earned a pair of corners and took five shots on the Hartwick cage over a 17 minute-span. 'Wick keeper Megan Campbell (Rutland, MA/Wachusett Reg.) kept the Brewers out, however, with two saves on both Brewer shots on target.
The Hawks finally broke the tie with less than two minutes to play before the half. Hartwick earned a corner and Hiliary Carlson (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) sent the ball to Wentlent. Her shot bounced in past Vassar goalie Maggie Brelis for a 1-0 lead. It marked Wentlent's first career tally and Carlson's first career point in a Hartwick uniform.
In the second half, Hartwick continued to put the Brewers under pressure with six shots and four penalty corners in the first eight minutes. Vassar was able to stave off the Hawks' offense until a shot from Wentlent deflected off Brelis and Sweeney was there to put in her first of two on the day at the 8:53 mark.
Just three minutes, 24 seconds later, Sweeney gave Hartwick a three-goal cushion. On a 2-on-1 breakaway, teammate Kelsey Kimble (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) delivered a pass to Sweeney who slipped the ball into the left corner of goal to put the game away.
Hartwick ended the game with a 17-13 edge in shots. The total was deceiving as the Brewers took the last nine shots of the day with the game all but decided.
Campbell made one save in the Vassar spurt. Freshman keeper Devyn Staley (Greene, NY/Greene) came on in relief and faced a majority of the remaining Brewer shots which were either blocked or wide of the cage. The hosts finally got on the scoreboard with 6:08 left in the game with a goal from Emily Maier.
Hartwick, which improves to 8-2 all-time against Vassar with eight straight victories, hosts the University of Rochester in its home opener on Saturday. The Hawks and Yellowjackets play at Wright Stadium beginning at 2 p.m.