ONEONTA, NY – Jamie O’Grady’s (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk HS) header goal in the 16^th minute proved to be the difference as Hartwick’s men’s soccer team defeated Niagara 1-0 Sunday in the final game of the 2017 Mayor’s Cup.

            The victory sealed the cup title, which is the first for the program since the Hawks hoisted the trophy in 2007. O’Grady, who was named the Jim Lennox Offensive Most Valuable Player and to the All-Tournament Team, netted all three of his team’s goals on the weekend.

            The winner came following a Johnny McBeth (Glasgow, Scotland/Upper Iowa University) left-footed service from the corner to the right of the Purple Eagles’ goal. The cross found an unmarked O’Grady who buried his header to the near post.

            Eleven minutes later, the Hawks thought they had two-goal advantage when Harry Morton (Napier, New Zealand/Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu) sent in O’Grady who found the net but the assistant referee whistled him for offside. O’Grady had another header in the waning minutes of the half on a Hamish Ritchie (Aberdeen, Scotland/Aboyne Academy) free kick but it missed the target wide and ’Wick settled for a 1-0 lead at the intermission.

            Hartwick generated chances in the early going of the second half. Morton had a look at goal after a pass from Marc Berry (Galashiels, Scotland/Galashiels Academy) but he had his effort blocked by a Niagara defender. Moments later, Ritchie’s corner found O’Grady for a free header but he put it over the bar.

            With thirty minutes remaining, another Ritchie corner found Ellis Hancox (Garstang, England/Myerscough College) in the box. His powerful header looked destined for the corner but it was cleared off the line by a Purple Eagle back.

            An individual effort from Jack Philp (Edinburgh, Scotland/Currie Community HS) created the Hawks’ final chance with three and a half minutes left only to have it stopped by Niagara goalkeeper Joe Gerberich.

            Hartwick goalkeeper Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy) made four saves to earn the clean sheet. Gerberich finished with four stops for Niagara.

            Sophomore defender Jonny Carr (Sunderland, England/Monkwearmouth) was tapped the Garth Stam Defensive Most Valuable Player for his efforts on the weekend. He joined O’Grady, Ritchie, and McBeth on the All-Tournament Team.

            Hartwick is next in action on Saturday, September 16 at St. Bonaventure beginning at 7 p.m. A listing of the post-tournament awards can be found below.

 

 

 

 

Jim Lennox Offensive MVP: Jamie O’Grady, Hartwick

 

Garth Stam Defensive MVP: Jonny Carr, Hartwick

 

All-Tournament Team:

Jamie O’Grady, Hartwick

Jonny Carr, Hartwick

Hamish Ritchie, Hartwick

Johnny McBeth, Hartwick

Angus Hasting, Fairfield

Jonas Vergin, Fairfield

Ben Wignall, Fairfield

Bautista Bedezert, Niagara

Joel Gerberich, Niagara

Jake Cooper, Robert Morris

Bayley Winkel, Robert Morris