AKRON, OH - Hartwick men’s soccer ended Akron’s NCAA record 49-game (46-0-3) conference unbeaten streak on Saturday night at Cub Cadet Field in Akron, OH with a 2-0 victory. The win marks Hartwick’s first over the Zips since 1973.

            Kit Tregear (Brighton, England/BHVASVIC) picked a fine time to score his first collegiate goal as he tallied on a header in the 65th minute from an assist from Jack Miller (Commack, NY/Commack).
            The Zips nearly tied it with 5:50 left in the contest after they were rewarded a penalty kick. Hartwick keeper Mateo Munarriz (Manizales, Colombia/Colegio Granadino), however, came up with a huge save on the kick, one of his career-high 13 stops on the night.
            Chris Walter (Amherst, NY/Nichols School) gave the Hawks some insurance 1:29 later off a feed from Marc Russell (Glasgow, Scotland/Woodfarm HS) to seal the win.
            “All the boys are heroes tonight,” said an ecstatic John Scott following the victory. “We became the first team to beat Akron in the MAC and that would not have been accomplished without being in this for each other.”

            Akron entered the match as the eight-time defending regular season MAC champion with a 33-0 mark versus the rest of the league since 2008. The Zips held a 9-1-2 all-time record against the Hawks, which included an 11-game unbeaten streak against ’Wick.
            Hartwick was undaunted as it went at the Zips from the opening kickoff. The Hawks, however, understood the challenge at hand.

            “Our game plan included understanding what we’d be up against,” contributed Scott, “and that we’d be forced to defend for long periods of the game.”
            The Zips held the territorial edge for the first 45 minutes and the held the Hawks in their end for much of the period. However, the Hartwick defense would keep AU at bay allowing only a very few decent chances on goal. The best of which coming in the twenty-third minute, as Eric Stevenson’s shot following a cross on the box, forced a very difficult diving save from Munarriz.
            The half would end 0-0 with the Zips holding a 9-1 edge in shots. The Hawks, however, weathered the first-half storm.
            “We wanted to make sure we made it through the first half without conceding a goal,” added Scott. “If we made it through the first 45 zero-zero, we’re halfway there.”
            In the first 15 minutes of the second half, the Hawks would create chances, including a Walter laser in the 62^nd minute which went wide of the Akron net. Just prior, Stevenson was at it again as he rifled a shot from 25 yards out that forced another diving save from Munarriz to keep the game level.
            The Hawks got on the board after 64:02. Miller served a ball into the Akron box from the right side line where Tregear, using his 6-4 frame, was first to the header, lofting the ball up and over Akron keeper Fernando Pina into the far corner just inside the post to give ’Wick the 1-0 advantage.
            “Attacking-wise we thought we might have success in their box and that worked well for us on Kit’s goal.”
            With 25 minutes remaining down a goal, the Zips expectedly upped their pressure on the Hawks’ back line. Akron would register the next 10 shots and four corners over the ensuing 20 minutes of action but the Hawks wouldn’t break.

            With roughly 20 minutes left, Ismail Seremba’s long range effort forced a tough save from Munarriz. Two minutes later, after a pass back and a Munarriz miscue which saw the keeper clear the ball nearly off his line, Riley Grant collected the ball inside the 18. He fired but Munarriz tipped his shot up over the bar to once again keep the Hawks in front.
            The biggest threat to the Hartwick win came in the 85^th minute when the Hawks were whistled for a mysterious penalty kick following a flighted ball into the Zips’ penalty area. Reinaldo Brenes stepped up for the kick but Munarriz was not to be solved on the night as he made the save, keeping Hartwick up 1-0.
            Almost ninety seconds later, Hartwick pushed its advantage to two goals. Russell paved the way for the tally as he made nearly a 40-yard run with the ball up the Akron sideline. He was able to get his service into the box on the right side where Walter, who had dashed up the field to get into the play, was there to slot home past Pina with 4:21 on the clock for a 2-0 Hartwick edge.
            In the waning stages of the match, Akron was able to generate a corner and two shots but both of them were high above the target and the Hawks secured the momentous win.
            Munarriz would close the match, not only with the clean sheet, but also with 13 saves for the Hawks. Pina did not make a save for Akron.
            “Mateo was busy and he did his job,” stated Scott. “Tonight he showed what he is capable of.”
            The Hawks victory is the first over a nationally ranked opponent since a 2-0 win over #15 Dartmouth on Elmore back on September 26, 2009.
            “We needed brave performances tonight from our boys, and we go them,” said Scott. “What a night for Hartwick soccer.”
            The Hawks resume play with another MAC match next Friday night against West Virginia on Elmore, as part of Hartwick True Blue Weekend. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

 

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