GARDEN CITY, NY – Two first-half goals from juniors Greg Mathers (Macclesfield, England/Binghamton Univ.) and Cleyon Brown (Kingston, Jamaica/Berkshire School) held up as Hartwick’s men’s soccer team was victorious for the third straight game and for the fourth time in five matches. The Hawks’ three-game winning streak is the longest for the program since 2009 and tied for the second-highest in the last six seasons.
            With the victory, Hartwick jumps over the .500 mark with a 5-4-2 record. Adelphi falls to 3-5-1.
            “It was a great victory for us,” said head coach John Scott after the match. “We started five freshmen tonight, including four in the back. It was a tremendous effort and it’s a huge lift to win games heading into our remaining Mid-American Conference matches.”
            The Hawks dodged an early bullet just 1:31 into the game as the Hawks were whistled for a foul in their own penalty area resulting in an Adelphi penalty kick. Dan Larenius took the spot kick for the Panthers, but Hartwick goalkeeper Mateo Munarriz (Bogota, Colombia/Colegio Granadino), diving to his right, made a sprawling save to keep the game tied.
            “Munarriz was exceptional for us tonight,” remarked Scott. “Saving the early penalty was a big boost for us but he was solid throughout the match.”
            Just 1:44 later, the Hawks got on the board as Brown delivered a perfect pass to a wide open Mathers for the early 1-0 lead. Brown got the ball at the left corner of the Adelphi box. He had an opening to shoot on goal, but instead played a ball across the box to an open Mathers who coolly finished for his second goal of the year.
            Both teams had opportunities over the next 20 minutes, but Brown would give the Hawks a two-goal advantage in the 26^th minute on a great individual effort. He received a pass from sophomore Tim Crawford (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas), split two defenders on the left side of the Panther goal, and his far-post shot beat AU goalie Christopher Herrera to his right-hand side for the Hartwick tally.
            Despite out-shooting their hosts 9-3 in the opening half, the Panthers did manage scoring chances, but Munarriz was up to the task, making two saves.
            In the second half, the Panthers had a couple of dangerous chances in the opening five minutes off of free kicks, but both opportunities were off target.
            The Hawks nearly made the score 3-0 inside of 10 minutes of the second half following a free kick just 18 yards from the Panther goal. Mathers’ effort, however, skimmed the crossbar. With 23 minutes left in the match, a Jherrett Maroney (Cincinnatus, NY/Stony Brook Univ.) header after a scramble also glanced off the bar but the game remained 2-0.
            The Hawks found themselves up a man with less than eight minutes remaining after Adelphi’s Adam Weinzeimer was issued a red card. Brown broke free just outside the box and Weinzeimer, the Panthers’ last defender, brought him down to bring about the card.
            The send off actually gave the Panthers life and they were rewarded with 4:36 remaining. A shot in the box was blocked in front by a Hartwick defender. The rebound fell right to Mauricio Mora 16 yards from goal and his blast beat Munarriz to his right to cut the deficit in half.
            The Hawks’ defense held up the rest of the way. Brandon Stoneham had the last chance for Adelphi on a flick that went just high of the Hawks’ crossbar.
            “I credit Adelphi tonight for a well-played match, said Scott. “They threw a lot at us and never gave up, especially after the red card.”
            The Hawks finished the match with a 12-10 edge in shots. The Panthers held a 6-4 advantage in corners.
             Munarriz closed the game with three saves to get the win in goal. Herrara made six saves in a losing effort.
            Hartwick improves to 20-15-6 all-time against Adelphi with the victory. The Hawks, who are 1-0 in MAC play thus far, next play on Saturday, October 15 at nationally 3^rd ranked Akron.

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