WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mike Rood (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) and Marc Berry (Galashiels, Scotland/Galashiels Academy) scored goals for the Hawks with Dean Fowler (Sydney, Australia/Colo) assisting on both as the Hartwick men’s soccer team capped a perfect Sun Belt regular season with a 2-0 shutout at Howard University on Saturday.
            The Hawks, who are ranked eighth in the Southeast Region, improve to 9-5-3 on the season and 5-0 in league play. Hartwick is now 5-1-1 in its last seven matches heading into the Sun Belt playoffs next week.

            “We were made to work hard for today’s win,” said Hartwick head coach John Scott following the match. “But defensively we were strong and earned the clean sheet as a team.”
            Hartwick appeared to take an early lead just ten minutes into the contest as Wyatt Scott (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) scored off a Rood pass. The linesman whistled for offside, however, keeping the game level.
            Fourteen and a half minutes later, the Hawks were in front. Fowler worked hard to engineer the play. Once Rood was on the ball, he showed composure finishing for the 1-0 lead. It marked Rood’s third tally of the season.
            The game would remain 1-0 for nearly 61 minutes until the 85:21 mark. Fowler got the ball to Berry with an easy square pass for a routine finish to put the game away.
            The Hawks closed the match with a 7-5 edge in shots. Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy) was called upon to make three saves in earning his sixth shutout of the season. Bison keeper Sam Howard stopped two Hartwick shots in the contest.
            Scott recognized Fowler and midfielder Harry Morton (Napier, New Zealand/Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu) for their efforts on the day.
            The Hawks had already clinched their second straight Sun Belt regular season title. They take the top seed into the conference playoffs which spans from November 12-15 in Boone, NC.
            Hartwick will draw a bye into the semifinals and will play Friday, November 13 against the winner of the first round game between Appalachian State and NJIT. Game time is yet to be determined.
            Georgia Southern and Georgia State will play in the other semifinal with the championship match slated for Sunday, November 15. The Hawks will be in search of their second consecutive crown and subsequent berth in the NCAA Tournament.

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