MOON TOWNSHIP, PA – Perhaps it deserved better but the Hartwick College men’s soccer team opened the 2014 season with a 1-1 tie at Robert Morris University in a match played at North Athletic Complex in Moon Township, PA on Friday afternoon. The Hawks outshot the Colonials by a margin of 18-10 and had a 10-3 edge in shots on target but could not come away with a game-winner.
            “We had plenty of moments where we put them under pressure,” said Hartwick skipper John Scott. “With 10 shots on goal we showed lots of positives in attack.”
            After an uneventful first overtime period, the Hawks turned it on as they took all four shots and earned four corners in the second extra session.
            Hartwick’s best opportunity to put the game away came in the 101^st minute as senior Jhevaughn Beckford’s (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer’s Boys’ School) corner kick came off the hand of an RMU defender in the box which resulted in a Hartwick penalty kick. Senior Chris Walter (Snyder, NY/Nichols School) took the spot kick, but Colonial keeper Brenden Alfery went down low to his right to make the diving stop to keep the game level. ’Wick had RMU pinned in its own end the rest of the way, but was never able to solve Alfery again.
            The Hawks controlled the first half of play with a 9-3 advantage in shots over 45 minutes. They were finally rewarded at 39:07 when sophomore Jamie O’Grady (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk HS) broke into the box on the left wing and served the ball across the goal mouth out of the reach of Alfery. Junior forward Dean Fowler (Sydney, Australia/Colo HS) was at the far post and his sliding effort put the Hawks ahead 1-0.
            The game remained 1-0 until late in the contest. In the 80^th minute, a Hartwick clearance attempt took a deflection and bounced back into the box to RMU striker Neco Brett who took a touch a fired past Hartwick’s Tom Buckner (Oxford, England/Henley College) for the equalizer. Ryan Vilella was credited with the assist.           
            Despite giving up the tying goal, the Hawks pressured the Colonials in the final 10 minutes of regulation. They earned a pair of shots and three corners.
            “After conceding the goal, we showed great character and reserves of energy to dominate the remaining 30 minutes,” added Scott.
            Hartwick closed the match with 13 corners to RMU’s six. Buckner would finish with a pair of saves for ’Wick. Alfery made nine stops for the hosts.
            Hartwick stays in Pennsylvania for a road match on Sunday against Bucknell. Kickoff with the Bison starts at 5 p.m.