CONWAY, SC – In its first Sun Belt Conference match on Sunday, Hartwick’s men’s soccer team suffered a cruel fate as the Hawks fought off host Coastal Carolina for 88 minutes but conceded a goal with 1:50 remaining in a 1-0 defeat to the Chanticleers.

            The winner came off a cross from Carlos Becerra into the Hartwick box. Romario Piggott, in between two Hawk defenders, struck a powerful header to the near post from eight yards away leaving ’Wick keeper Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy) no chance.

            The loss drops the Hawks to 4-6-1 on the season. The Chanticleers move to 5-6 overall and 1-1 in Sun Belt play.

            Wilson was called upon early to make a save on the doorstep just three minutes in. Martin Melchor’s header forced a reaction save from the junior keeper to keep the game even. He later made a difficult save on a Frantzdy Pierrot shot that took a deflection with 15 and a half minutes to play in the opening 45 minutes.

            Jamie O’Grady (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk HS) and Conor Corboy (Aptos, CA/Mississippi College) each had shots on target for Hartwick in the half but both were saved by Coastal goalkeeper Braulio Linarez-Ortiz.

            More chances came in the second half. The first for the Hawks came with 36 minutes to play after they earned a free kick 25 yards from the Chanticleer goal. The Hawks’ ensuing near-post effort would be collected by Linares-Ortiz.

            Six minutes later, the Hartwick dodged a bullet as Louis Dargent’s shot to the near post off a corner was blocked on the goal line by Hawk defender Jonny Carr (Sunderland, England/Monkwearmouth). Coastal had another opportunity nine minutes later as Melchor rifled a shot wide that just missed a sliding Pierrot at the far post.

            Hartwick had perhaps its best opportunity of the contest with 13 minutes remaining. Following a corner in the Hawks’ end, Coastal was caught in transition allowing a 2v1 with Alex Patz (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca HS) and Corboy closing in on the Chanticleer goal. Patz kept the ball and fired a shot that forced a diving fingertip save from Linarez-Ortiz and the game stayed goalless.

            The Chanticleers nearly broke the tie with six and a half minutes showing on the clock. Darius Strambler shot from inside the box was headed for the far corner. It took a deflection off a Coastal player a yard from goal but somehow managed to go wide of the Hawks’ net.

            The hosts would hold a 14-4 advantage in shots in the game. They generated eight corners to the Hawks’ three. Wilson would make five saves in the contest. Linares-Ortiz finished with four.

            Hartwick stays in conference for its next game on Saturday, October 14 at Appalachian State. The game kicks off from Boone, NC at 7 p.m.

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