Field Hockey | 9/1/2021 11:21:00 PM
ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick field hockey team started their second season of the calendar year on a winning note, coming from a goal down in the fourth quarter against visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to win, 3-2. The game was each side's season opener.
It was a tale of two halves, as the game gradually crescendoed into a frenzy by the end of the fourth quarter. The first of those quarters, however, was extremely quiet, as neither team registered a shot or a corner in the opening 15 minutes. The second quarter saw a little more action as the Hawks put up four shots, but the game remained scoreless at the half.
'Wick finally broke the ice in the 39th minute.
Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) struck a hard shot from close range that was stopped impressively by keeper Jen Richardson, but
Jessica Betts (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) was right there to clean it up for her first career goal and the 1-0 lead. RPI would knot the score under four minutes later, however, as Brianna Duba took advantage of a 'Wick yellow card and scored off a corner.
The Engineers grabbed the lead 2:42 into the fourth; Lauren Roy's shot hit the far post, but Maura Kiernan was right there to send the ball into the back of the cage for a 2-1 lead. Hartwick fought on, forcing three saves (one defensive) over the next few minutes before tying the game up at two in the 53rd minute. Gagnon worked her magic again, controlling the ball in a crowded cage front area and scooping it over the keeper and into the top right corner at 52:22.
The game seemed destined for overtime for a while after, as each team had multiple attempts stymied by the opposition. Holly Calore
(Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) secured her first career game-winner with just 1:17 to go, poking the ball through and in off a scramble.
Gagnon led the Hawks with five shots (three on target), while Calore,
Lex Matarazzo (Commack, NY/Commack) and
Makenzie Kensel (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch) had two tries apiece.
Madison Maddocks (Garrison, NY/Walter Panas) earned her first career win in her first career start, making one save over 60 minutes.
The Hawks held the upper hand in shots with a 15-8 advantage (including 9-3 on target). They also had a much more slight lead in corners, at 7 to 5.
Hartwick is back at it again this Saturday, September 4, when they host Rochester at 2 p.m.