BOONE, NC – Two goals in the final 23 minutes, including the game-winner from senior Nick Hills (Garden Suburb, Australia/U. of Newcastle) with 6:18 remaining in the game, lifted Hartwick to a 2-1 come from behind victory over host Appalachian State on Saturday at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex in Boone, NC.
            The win for the Hawks improves their conference mark to a perfect 4-0-0. The worst the Hawks can finish is 4-1 and they hold the tie-breakers over Georgia State and Georgia Southern, the only two teams with a possibility of finishing 4-1.

            Hartwick clinches its second consecutive Sun Belt Conference regular season crown with tonight’s result. They are 9-0 against Sun Belt opposition in their last nine outings.

            Both teams had five shots in the first half and it appeared the game would reach halftime deadlocked at zeros. However, the Mountaineers took the lead with just 47 seconds left on the first-half clock to hit the break with the advantage instead. Stephen Chapman got the goal with Raheem Somersall assisting.
            “Down 1-0 at halftime was tough to take,” Hartwick head coach John Scott remarked. “They took their chance but 1-1 would have been more than fair.”
            In the second half, the Hawks had chances hit the crossbar. Harry Morton (Napier, New Zealand/Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu) had a header from in close strike the woodwork. Later, Jack Donaldson’s (Paisley, Scotland/Mars Hill University) free kick from 50 yards caught the App State keeper off his line and the ball skipped off the top of the bar.
            Finally in the 68^th minute, the Hawks were rewarded. They got a break in the box following a free kick and Jamie O’Grady (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk) was there to tap in his league-leading ninth goal of the season.
            A Donaldson free kick later would produce the winner. He served a ball in that found Hills in the box. His glancing header beat Paul West for his first tally this season.
            “I’m delighted for the team on their efforts,” added Scott. “Jack and Marc Berry, in particular, were very good, as was Mike Rood for holding the ball for us up top.”
            App State held the edge in shots, 16-12. Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy) recorded two saves in goal for the Hawks. West made one save for the Mountaineers.
            The Hawks close out the regular season at Howard University (0-16-2) next Saturday before returning to Boone, NC for the Sun Belt playoffs which take place from November 12-15.