ONEONTA, NY – In a rematch of last year's Empire 8 conference semifinal playoff matchup, the Hartwick Hawks defeated the Houghton Highlanders, 5-1, on Saturday.
 
The Hawks—who won the conference championship in 2019 and lost to St. John Fisher, 1-0, in the final last spring—peppered the Houghton cage early and often, accumulated 13 shots in the first quarter, scoring twice.
 
Houghton regained their footing in the second quarter, limiting the Hawks to five shots and no goals, but continued to play defensively into the break.
 
In the second half, Houghton began to muster some offense, but Hartwick added an insurance goal less than four minutes in to take a three goal lead. 
 
The Highlanders finally got on the scoreboard less than a minute later when Peyton Bentley collected a blocked shot from Deborah Cross and ripped a shot past the Hawks keeper.
 
While the opportunities would play out near equally the rest of the way, Hartwick would add two more goals before the day was through, in route to a 5-1 victory.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 1 | Hartwick – 5
Records: Houghton: 3-6 (2-2 Empire 8) | Hartwick: 5-2 (2-0 Empire 8)
Venue: Wright Stadium, Hartwick College | Attendance: 100

SCORING SUMMARY

10:20		Holly Calore
14:24		Libby Fortin
33:44		Sydney Gagnon Assisted By: Julie Ruzzi
34:31		Peyton Bentley
43:36		Sydney Gagnon
52:15		Chrissy Boeltz

NOTABLE STATS
>> The Hawks outpaced the Highlanders in both shots (33-to-7) and corners (15-to-4).
 
>> Sofia Gildemeister stopped a career-best 19 shots, nearly doubling her previous-best 10 saves, which she accomplished on March 21, 2021 against Hartwick.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders head to Geneseo on Wednesday for a non-conference tilt with the SUNY Geneseo Knights at 7:00 p.m.