SPOKANE, WA – Reigning Sun Belt Offensive Student Athlete of the Week Jamie O’Grady (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk) scored 2:22 into the second overtime period to lift Hartwick’s men’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over host Gonzaga at Luger Field in Spokane, WA.
          The Hawks led 1-0 deep into regulation but a Graison Le 25-yard bomb with just seven seconds remaining in the game tied it for the Bulldogs.
          ’Wick, playing with 10 men after a second yellow card late in regulation, fought off the host Bulldogs through the first overtime. Early in the second, O’Grady won the ball after a Gonzaga giveaway in the back. He touched the ball past a charging defender and sprung himself on a breakaway with Bulldog keeper Chris Lowrimore. At the top of the box, he slammed a low shot to Lowrimore’s left and in to give the Hawks the victory.

            “Performances don’t get any more massive than that,” said an elated head coach John Scott after the match. “A wonder strike with seven seconds left was an emotional sickener. The resolve the boys showed in overtime was phenomenal. From seeing a win taken away and then picking it back up again to defy all the odds is why you play.”
            The Bulldogs out-shot Hartwick 8-3 in the opening 45 minutes but it was the Hawks who drew first blood. Following a Gonzaga clearance to midfield, senior back David Styles (Bognor Regis, England/St. Phillip Howard) served a ball back into the Bulldog box to senior captain Jack Miller (Commack, NY/Commack). He was pulled down with a chance at goal resulting in a ’Wick penalty at 41:09. Mike Rood (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna) stepped up for the kick, got Lowrimore diving to his left, and finished to his right to give the Hawks the lead.
            In the second half, the Hawks kept the Bulldogs at bay, defending corners and balls served into the box. It appeared the Hawks were destined for the win with the ball pinned in the Gonzaga end with under a minute left in regulation. The Bulldogs, however, regained possession and got the ball down the field. Forty yards from goal, Le collected a clearance and after fighting off a tackle and after taking a few touches, rifled a shot past Hartwick keeper Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy) for the tying goal with only seven ticks left.
            To make matters worse, Miller picked up a second yellow two minutes prior meaning the Hawks would have to play the overtime sessions down a man.
            In the first extra session, Sam Olson forced a kick save from in close from Wilson 2:47 in. Connor Bevens then had an open chance at Wilson’s left from 12 yards away but he slammed his shot wide.
            O’Grady provided the game-winner on the first scoring opportunity of the second overtime. It marks his team-leading third goal in the Hawks’ last three games.
            The result also improves the Hawks’ record to 2-1-2. It is the program’s best five-game start to a season since the 2007 team began 3-1-1.
            “The energy Jamie found to finish the game was comic book stuff,” added Scott. “He showed why he’s so important for us with a clinical finish. It’s all about recovery now ahead of Sunday.”
            The Hawks will play Houston Baptist, a 2-1 winner over Milwaukee earlier in the day, Sunday at 7 p.m. (EST).
            Wilson finished the game with six big saves for the Hawks. Lowrimore stopped one Hartwick shot for the Bulldogs.    

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