LEWISBURG, PA – Hartwick closed out its Pennsylvania road trip with a 2-0 loss at Bucknell University’s Emmitt Field on Sunday evening. The Hawks came away with an exhausting 1-1 draw after 110 minutes of action at Robert Morris Friday. ’Wick returns home with a record of 0-1-1 heading into Mayor’s Cup weekend.
            “Tiredness showed today after the double overtime game Friday,” said Hawk head coach John Scott following the match. “We had enough looks at the goal to have taken the game to 2-2 but we lacked that bit of quality in front of goal when it counted.”
            The Hawks got off to a slow start as they spotted the hosts a 1-0 lead inside of three minutes. A ball played over the top of the ’Wick defense sprang Bison forward Patrick Figgie on a breakaway up the ride side. His powerful shot forced a save from Hawk senior goalkeeper Tom Buckner (Oxford, England/Henley College) but the rebound popped right back to Figgie who finished into the far corner.
            Hartwick’s best chance of the half came in the closing stages of the period when senior Chris Walter (Snyder, NY/Nichols School) had an opportunity in front of the Bucknell goal, but his effort was cleared of the line by a Bison defender.
            Both teams fired two shots in the opening 14 minutes of the second half to no avail before a Bison attacker streaked into the ’Wick box on the right side. Contact was made by a Hawk defender and the referee whistled for a penalty kick. Jonathan Grad stepped up and made Buckner guess wrong to his left and finished for the 2-0 advantage.
            “I’m not sure the penalty was a penalty but that goal gave them a vital cushion,” added Scott.
            Despite the deficit, the Hawks surged ahead for their opening goal. Sophomore Mike Rood (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) had a good look at 65:51 after he found himself alone 14 yards from goal on the left side but his volley went wide of the near post.
               The Bison nearly added to their total five minutes later. Pat Plourde sent his blast in off the Hartwick crossbar and the game remained a two-goal contest.
            Freshman Marc Berry (Galashiels, Scotland/Galashiels Academy) had the last solid chance for Hartwick with just under eight minutes remaining on a free header off a cross. He did not get a solid head to the ball however, and it was collected by Bison keeper Clarke Fox.
            Bucknell, which improves to 3-2-2 against the Hawks all-time in seven meetings, held a slim advantage in shots, 13-10. Buckner made eight saves for ’Wick with Clarke stopping four shots for the Bison.
               The Hawks will look to regroup for Mayor’s Cup which begins on Friday, September 5 at Elmore Field. St. Peter’s opens against New Hampshire at 5 p.m. with Hartwick hosting Fairfield at 7:30 p.m. ’Wick will be looking for its first Mayor’s Cup title since 2007.

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