COLLEGE PARK, MD – The score wasn’t indicative of the entire match on Tuesday night at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD as Hartwick battled back from a three-goal hole but surrendered two late Terrapin tallies in the final 3:14 in a 5-2 loss.
           The Terrapins, who are just out of the national top 25 in the “receiving votes” category and last season’s national runners-up, are the most highly-touted team on Hartwick’s schedule, but the Hawks refused to give in against their hosts.
            “We were never out of the game,” said Hartwick head coach John Scott following the match. “The boys are disappointed as with any loss, but they can be proud of themselves tonight.”
            Trailing 3-0 in the second half, the Hawks gained one back at 72:18 as senior midfielder Chris Walter (Amherst, NY/Nichols School) played a long ball from his own end over the top of the Terrapin defense. Freshman Marc Berry (Galashiels, Scotland/Galashiels) was the first to the ball and broke in with UM keeper Zack Steffan who came all the way out to the top of his own 18 to cut down Berry’s shooting lane. Berry calmly slotted the ball past Steffan and the Hawks were on the scoreboard.
            Just over four minutes later, the Hawks trimmed the margin to one as they earned a free kick at the top of the Terrapin circle. Junior back Ross MacKinnon (Glasgow, Scotland/Jordanhill School) delivered a perfect left-footed shot up over the wall curling back to the near-post and into the side netting and the Hawks were within a goal.
            Before the Hawks had a good opportunity at tying the game, Maryland picked up an insurance goal. A shot just outside the Hartwick box from Tsubasa Endoh caught a deflection and fell right to David Kabelik. He took a touch and slotted home past Mateo Munarriz (Bogota, Colombia/Colegio Granadio) for a 4-2 advantage.
            With just 14 seconds left in the match, a foul in the ’Wick box allowed Dan Metzger a penalty kick. He scored to Munarriz’ right in off the post for the final 5-2 score line. 
            The Hawks played right with the Terrapins through the opening 15 minutes, maintaining a good deal of the ball possession. ’Wick’s first good look at goal came with just under 25 minutes left in the half when senior Jhevaughn Beckford (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer’s Boys’) dribbled the ball into the box on the left side and laid it off to senior midfielder Rio Dhat (Auckland, New Zealand/Epping Boys) for a shot 22 yards out but his effort went high.
            Two and a half minutes later, UM had a chance as George Campbell got the ball wide left and sent his shot to the near post to keeper Tom Buckner’s (Oxfordshire, England/Henley College) right but it hit the side netting. Five minutes later, Mael Corboz had a free header in the box after a service from the left side but he put his shot over and well out of danger.
            Corbose would make good on his next chance, however, as he received a give-and-go at the top of the box. After a few step-overs brought the ball to his left foot, he roofed his shot past Buckner’s near side for the Terrapin lead.
            Maryland needed just 4:38 to get its second marker. A ball on the ground was fed just inside the 18 to Corbose. He brought the ball inside to gain a shooting lane and hammered a low shot to Buckner’s left for the two-goal cushion.
            “In the first half we settled well,” Scott added. “A couple of moments were enough for them on both scoring chances and you could tell that settled them down.”
            With about seven minutes until the halftime whistle, Kabelik had another opportunity from distance but he sent his shot screaming inches wide.
            In the second half, the Terrapins got their third goal at 66:03. Endoh tallied with a shot from eight yards out before the Hawks responded for two straight goals.
            “We never gave up,” Scott said. “Chris had great vision to catch them flat at the back and Marc showed composure on the finish. Ross’ goal was as good a free kick as any you’ll ever see. Their fourth was a sickener after we clawed our way back and the penalty was cruel after the character we showed.”
            Buckner would finish with three saves in 75 and a half minutes. Munarriz made one stop in the final 14:30.
            The Hawks are off for 11 days before their regular season finale at home against Howard. With a victory, the Hawks have a shot at the Sun Belt regular season title and top seed in the upcoming conference playoffs.

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