Women's Soccer | 10/9/2021 8:02:00 PM
ONEONTA, NY – A pair of goal involvements from Julia Collado (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon) were all that was needed for the Hartwick women's soccer team on Saturday afternoon, as they took down visiting Houghton 2-0 on the Elmore grass. The win moves the Hawks to 4-2-3 overall and 2-0-1 in the Empire 8, while the Highlanders drop to 5-5-1 overall and 0-3-1 in conference.
Hartwick got on the board early, taking a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute. Collado played a ball over the Houghton back line and into the path of a streaking Gianna Cacciola (Wading River, NY/Shoreham Wading River), who one-touched it with her left foot past the onrushing keeper and into the back of the net. The Hawks outshot the Highlanders 9-4 in the first half but had to be content with just the 1-0 lead after 45 minutes.
Hartwick turned up the heat in the second half, outshooting their visitors 12-0 over the final 45 minutes. It took until the 65th minute for a second goal, however. A Highlander clearance came right to Collado, who turned and fired left-footed from the top of the box into the top left corner for the insurance tally.
Hartwick nearly got some icing on their cake in the final two minutes, as Julia Bono (West Milford, NJ/West Milford Township) sent a ball to Grace Byrne (Lynbrook, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) down the right side, but Byrne's effort to the far post went just wide.
Collado led all comers with four shots (three on target) to go with her goal and assist. Three other Hawks had three shots apiece: Madi McGuire (Goshen, NY/Goshen), Byrne, and Kayla Grassi (Montgomery, NY/Pine Bush). Sara Staup (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) played all 90 minutes in net, making two saves to secure her fifth clean sheet of the season.
Hartwick gets back to it on Wednesday, as they will travel to Elmira for a 3 p.m. kickoff.