ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick hosted Appalachian State in its first-ever Sun Belt Conference game in front of a packed Elmore Field during Hartwick True Blue Weekend Friday night. The Hawks managed to come away with a point in a 0-0 tie.
            Both the Hawks and Mountaineers had multiple chances to score in the contest. The two sides each had nine shots through regulation play. The Mountaineers out-shot the Hawks 4-1 in the second overtime but none of App. State’s efforts were troubling for ’Wick goalkeeper Tom Buckner (Oxford, England/Henley College) who made four saves to earn his second shutout of the season.
            The Mountaineers had the first chance of the game less than two minutes in. Austin Stamey broke free and got into the box to Buckner’s left. He fired low but the Hartwick keeper dove to make the save.
            Hartwick got its first chance of the night at the 7:01 mark when Mike Rood (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) was fouled just inside the box resulting in a penalty kick. Kit Tregear (Brighton, England/BHASVIC) stepped up for the spot kick but his hard drive deflected off the crossbar and over.
            The Mountaineers had perhaps their best opportunity 24 minutes in. Leading scorer Stanley Broaden got into the box, maneuvered around Buckner, who had come out on the play, and slipped his shot toward an empty Hartwick net. Tregear was there to deny Broaden with a sliding effort to keep the ball out.
            Chris Walter (Amherst, NY/Nichols School) later found an opening from 25 yards away for Hartwick. His blast, however, was handled by Appalachian State keeper Paul West and the half ended zero-zero. The Hawks held a 5-3 edge in shots after 45 minutes.
            Play began to open up roughly 20 minutes into the second half with both teams generating chances. Broaden had a shot blocked from in close for Appalachian State at the 66:17 mark. On a Hartwick counter attack a minute later, back Jack Miller (Commack, NY/Commack) made a 50-yard run up the right side, weaving through a pair of Mountaineer defenders and getting deep into the box. But he was whistled for a foul after colliding with Mountaineer reserve keeper Holland Hammond in close.
            Appalachian State’s Keegan Tanaka came right back for the visitors with a chance in the Hartwick box. Buckner would make the save to keep it level.
            With five minutes left in regulation the Hawks had another opportunity when Rood slipped a pass into Walter, who had a shooting lane, but his shot was stuffed by a Mountaineer defender. The Hawks were dangerous in the final 30 seconds with a ball in the penalty area, but they were unable to get a shot off and the game went to overtime.
            After a shot-less first 10-minute extra session, the Mountaineers generated two corners and mustered four shots. Only one would be on target and Buckner made an easy save. Tregear had a late header in the dying seconds but the shot never made it to goal and the two teams settled for the draw.
            Appalachian State (3-5-2) ended the match with a 13-10 edge in shots. Both teams earned four corners.
            Both West and Hammond finished the game with three saves to combine for the clean sheet for the Mountaineers.
            Hartwick (0-6-4) returns to Elmore next Wednesday in a non-conference matchup with St. Bonaventure. The Hawks and Bonnies kickoff at 7 p.m.