Field Hockey | 11/4/2023 4:43:00 PM
PITTSFORD, NY – The No. 2 seed Hartwick College field hockey team (12-5, 6-1 Empire 8) earned its second straight Empire 8 Field Hocley Championship, defeating top-seed St. John Fisher University (11-8) by a score of 2-1 in the league title game from Growney Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Hartwick senior Julie Ruzzi was named the 2023 Empire 8 Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player.
The Hawks won their sixth Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship in program history and third in the last five seasons under current head coach Erin Autera. Hartwick earns the Empire 8's automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Division III Field Championship and will find out who and where they will play in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 10:30 p.m. First round action in the NCAA Tournament begins on Wednesday, Nov. 8
The starting whistle blew and the title defense for the Hawks began as the Cardinals pressured Hartwick early. The Cardinals rattled off three shots, two that were saved by Ashley Luppens in the first five minutes of play.
Still applying pressure on the Cardinal defense, the Hawks battled to earn two corners. The second corner proved to be dangerous as Sami Shortino sent in a well-placed pass to Julie Ruzzi who was able to capitalize and strike one into the back of the cage for the first score with six minutes left
Possession was exchanged back and forth as the Hawks held onto their one goal lead as the first half came to a close. Both teams posted four shots but St. John Fisher won the corner advantage four to two.
The second half began and Hartwick was not content with their one goal lead. Formulating an attack and pushing down the field with purpose, they were awarded a corner. Ruzzi was able to receive the ball and dish it off to Libby Fortin, who spotted Caroline Aspuru and Aspuru tapped it into the goal just a minute into the quarter.
Hartwick switched to a defensive mindset, keeping the Cardinals at bay and staying active in the passing lanes. The Cardinals gained momentum midway through the third quarter with three consecutive penalty corners. Luppens stood tall, making three key saves before St. John Fisher's Sarah Woods converted on the final penalty corner to cut Hartwick's lead to 2-1.
The Hawks responded with offensive pressure as well, earning several corners and putting shots on goal but none were able to find the back of the cage as the third quarter expired. Building off the pressure from the end of the third quarter, the Hawks controlled the pace of the game in the fourth quarter. The stout defense was locked in as they stopped any Cardinal efforts early and cleared the ball the other way.
St. John Fisher earned one final penalty corner with just under three minutes left in regulation, but the Hawks were sure to squander any chance and flooded the passing lanes well.
Overall, Hartwick out-shot St. John Fisher, 14-8, including 11-4 in the second half and 4-0 in the fourth quarter. Hartwick also had 12 of its 14 penalty corners in the second half. Luppens made six saves in the win for the Hawks, while Sophia Trozzi made 10 saves for St. John Fisher.
2023 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Julie Ruzzi, Sr., M, Hartwick
2023 Empire 8 Field Hockey Tournament Schedule
Monday, Oct. 30 – First Round
No. 4 Utica defeated No. 5 Russell Sage, 3-2 – BOX SCORE
Thursday, Nov. 2 - Semifinals
No. 1 St. John Fisher defeated No. 4 Utica, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 Hartwick defeated No. 3 Houghton, 3-1 – BOX SCORE
Saturday, Nov. 4 - Championship
No. 2 Hartwick defeated No. 1 St. John Fisher, 2-1 – BOX SCORE
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com and
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