ONEONTA, NY – Sophomore Mike Rood’s (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) goal with 1:26 remaining in the game pushed the Hartwick men’s soccer team to its first win of the season Wednesday night, 2-1, over St. Bonaventure in a match played on Elmore Field.
            The Hawks trailed 1-0 in the second half but evened the score in the 60^th minute on a David Styles’ (Bognor Regis, England/St. Phillip Howard) tally. ’Wick pressured the Bonnies the rest of the half but it took nearly 30 minutes for the game-winner. A Bonaventure handball just inside the box resulted in a Hartwick penalty. Rood stepped up and banged in a high shot off the crossbar and in to put the Hawks up to stay.
            Hartwick improves to 1-6-4 on the season. The Bonnies fall to 1-7.
            “I’m delighted for the team and that’s every one of our players,” said winning head coach John Scott. “Everyone on our roster deserves credit for the work they put in daily. This has been long overdue.”
            Neither the Hawks nor the Bonnies generated many concrete chances to score in the opening half of play. Senior midfielder Rio Dhat (Auckland, New Zealand)  had a long-range shot hit the side netting from 25 yards away 10 minutes in for the Hawks. Styles had a direct kick go over the bar from the same distance with 11 minutes remaining.
            The Bonnies, who had registered just one shot in the half through the first 44 minutes, got the ball into the Hartwick end with under 20 seconds left before halftime. Following a long throw-in, a Hawks’ headed clearance popped to the top of the box. Eddie Keen ran on to it and unleashed a bomb into the top left corner as the clock hit zero and SBU shockingly entered the break up 1-0.
            The Hawks held a majority of possession early in the second half and they were rewarded at the 59:12 mark. Deep in the corner of the box near the end line, Rood delivered a short pass to Hartwick defender Jack Miller (Commack, NY/Commack) who sent a low cross across the goal mouth. Styles’ sliding effort directed the ball in past Bonaventure keeper Jeremy Figler and the Hawks drew even.
            “Well done to Jack on the goal,” said Scott. “He wouldn’t give up on it and that’s how Dave ends up scoring.”
            Hartwick wasn’t done as it created a flurry of chances in a four-minute span. Nick Hills (Garden Suberb, Australia/U. of Newcastle) got the ball wide to Miller on the right flank. His service made its way into the box leaving a point-blank chance for teammate Nate Horton (Stowe, VT/Stowe), but he was robbed by Figler with 26 and a half minutes left.
            Two minutes later, a cross to the far post was headed at goal by defender Kit Tregear (Brighton, England/BHASVIC). His shot took a deflection off a defender and smacked the post. Tregear’s follow-up was blocked by a Bonnies’ defender and the Hawks claimed hand ball but no call was given.
            Two minutes later, another Miller ball played in from the right side fell in front of the Bonnies’ goal with a pair of Hawks in position to score but neither got on the end of it.
            On the other end, Eric Smolarek had a good chance for SBU on the left side to Tom Buckner’s (Oxford, England/Henley College) right but the Hawk keeper made a diving stop to deny the chance.
            Hills had another opportunity with just under 14 minutes to go but his shot from just inside the penalty area was stopped by Figler. Tregear had one more opportunity with 4:10 left following a layoff from Miller but his shot went right at Figler for his fourth and final save of the night.
            With a minute and a half showing on the clock, the Hawks had the ball at the top of the SBU box. A Hartwick player flicked the ball in that came off the hand of a Bonnies’ defender resulting in the potential game-winning spot kick. Rood calmly finished it off for his third tally of the season. It was also the Hawks’ first converted penalty in three tries this season.
            Hartwick kept the ball pinned in the Bonaventure end for the remaining 1:26 to preserve the victory.
            “Credit Mike for holding his nerve and sticking the penalty away for the win.”
            The Hawks ended the match with a wide margin in shots, 16-5, including a 10-3 edge in the second half. Buckner closed the match with three stops for Hartwick.
            The Hawks take their victory into their second Sun Belt Conference game on Sunday. ’Wick plays at Georgia Southern in Statesboro, GA beginning at 2 p.m.

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