HAMILTON, NY – Hartwick men’s soccer (7-2-3) lost for the first time since August 30 on Wednesday at Colgate University by a final score of 1-0. The loss snaps the Hawks’ unbeaten streak at nine games.
             The game featured a pair of teams in the regional rankings with the Hawks ranked fifth in the latest Southeast region poll and the Raiders sitting third in the Northeast.
             The Raiders would register the game’s lone tally 4:39 into the second half. Hartwick is now winless in its last six games (0-3-3) against Colgate dating back to 2008.
             The Hawks’ top opportunity of the opening half came with 18:15 remaining. Marc Berry (Galashiels, Scotland/Galashiels Academy) had a shot blocked by a Colgate defender but it got right back for another chance even closer to goal. The ’Gate keeper, Ricky Brown, would make a save on the rebound.
              Two and a half minutes later, the Raiders had their top chance up to that point. They broke down the Hawks defensively and allowed a 1 versus 1 situation between Jared Stroud and ’Wick keeper Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy). Wilson won the battle as he dashed off his line to stuff the shot.
             Wilson was at it again with just over 12 minutes left in the half. He came off his line to rob Stroud and the rebound from Chaase Pagani went wide of the target.
             The Raiders final opportunity of the half came on a counter attack up the sideline to the left of the Hawks’ goal. A service across the goal mouth found the foot of Ethan Kutler but he put his shot high.
              Kutler would capitalize on his next opportunity early in the second half. After a long run, Kutler dribbled into the box, maneuvered past a Hartwick defender, and drove a far-post shot into the side netting for the 1-0 Colgate lead. The Raider goal marked the first conceded by the Hawks in the last 321:20 of action.
              Mike Rood (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) had a glancing header go wide of the Colgate goal just over four minutes after the Raiders’ tally. Later, Jack Donaldson’s (Paisley, Scotland/Mars Hill University) blast from 25 yards away slipped by the post.
              Wilson would come off his line to thwart several other Colgate opportunities over the next 20 minutes. The Raiders nearly made it 2-0 with three and a half minutes left, but Uyiosa Omorogbe pushed his open shot inches wide of the far post.
              Kane O’Neill (Lochwinnoch, Scotland/Gryffe HS) had a shot blocked 30 seconds later, and Jack Philp’s (Edinburgh, Scotland/Currie Community HS) last ditched effort from 22 yards out with 33 seconds left was corralled by Brown to end the game.
              The Raiders concluded the match with an 18-10 edge in shots. Both teams earned a trio of corners.
              Wilson made a season-high seven saves in the game. Brown finished with five stops for Colgate.
              The Hawks and Raiders were playing for the 51^st time this afternoon. The Hawks own a 37-9-5 all-time record against Colgate.
               Hartwick gets back to Sun Belt action on Saturday, October 22. ’Wick plays at Georgia Southern beginning at 7 p.m. from Statesboro, GA.