Field Hockey | 10/16/2021 8:37:00 PM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College field hockey program secured their 10th-straight berth into the Empire 8 postseason tournament with a come-from-behind 2-1 overtime victory over the Hartwick College Hawks on Saturday evening at Growney Stadium. The Cardinals remain unbeaten in conference play (6-0) and improve to 8-5 overall, while they handed the Hawks their first Empire 8 loss of the year, as they sit at 8-4 in the 2021 campaign and 4-1 in conference.
Hartwick put themselves in the driver's seat 14 minutes into play, as their first goal was the only one scored for the game's next 40 minutes. Play constantly swung through the midfield, as the two squads performed nearly evenly in every statistical category – until Fisher was awarded four more corner attempts than the visitors in the third quarter.
Coming off one of those corners was the Cardinals' equalizer in the 54th minute. As Audrey Grieb inserted the ball on the attempt, Bre Socker wound up to send a rocket screaming through the opponent's defense and past their keeper, enough to send the game into overtime.
Fisher didn't look back from there, as they found success on their second penalty corner of the seven-on-seven extra period. Following an insert by Emma Cooper, Socker unleashed another heater which was deflected by a defender to the open side of the goal. The game-winning goal was the graduate student's 13th of the season, which ties her for most in the conference.
The Cardinals were led by Socker in shots who had five, followed by Palma who tried three times, and Richardson who tallied a single try.
In goal, Sophia Trozzi stood tall, allowing just the one goal and making five saves on Hartwick's six shots. Her record improves to 8-5 with the team's.
Fisher, which has now won five straight games, now claims sole possession of first place in the Empire 8 standings. They take their win streak to SUNY Cortland next Wednesday, October 20 for their penultimate non-conference matchup of the season at 5 P.M.