ROCHESTER, NY – Hartwick’s women’s soccer team fell by a margin of 3-1 to Nazareth College on Saturday in Rochester. The Hawks rallied from one-goal deficit early in the second half, but the Golden Flyers added two goals in the final 26 and a half minutes for the win. The loss snaps the Hawks’ five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1) and drops their overall record to 7-3-1. They are now 3-1-1 in Empire 8 play.
            Nazareth took the first six shots of the game through the opening 18, but none were on goal. The Golden Flyers made good on their seventh though as Christine Belding scored her third of the year at 20:42. Michaela Soules got the ball on the end line and played it across for Belding in front who knocked it in for a 1-0 Naz advantage.
            The Hawks got their first shot of the game 39 seconds later on a Kristen McKasty (Bohemia, NY/Connetquot) effort. But her shot was saved by Alison Dobles. Kylie Thayer (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca) had another shot on target seven minutes before halftime also saved by the Naz keeper.
            ’Wick wasted little time tying the score in the second half as it found the net after just 1:03. Allie Ricci (Millstone, NJ/Saint John Vianney) would score her first in a Hartwick uniform with Sierra Bentley (Worcester, NY/Schenevus) picking up the assist and the Hawks and Flyers were all even.
            Naz would out-shoot the Hawks 4-1 over the next 17 minutes. Annie Millar (Ilion, NY/Ilion) made three saves in the span. Casey Boucher (Northbridge, MA/Northbridge) had the Hartwick shot but it was put over the bar.
            Soules would set up what would prove to be the game-winning tally at 63:46. She once again got end line and played it across for Christine Belding who finished the play off for the go-ahead goal.
            Millar registered another three saves on Naz shots in the next 20 minutes of action to keep the game a one-goal affair. Ashley Connolly (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) had a shot on frame in the span for the Hawks but it was stopped by Dobbles.
            Nazareth got an insurance marker on a corner kick with 5:35 left in the match. Courtney Malia’s service was headed in by Soules to cap her four-point day and the Naz victory.
            Millar would make a total of 11 saves in the game for the Hawks. Dobles finished with three.
            The Hawks face a critical Empire 8 Conference match tomorrow as they stay in the Rochester area. ’Wick faces St. John Fisher at Growney Stadium beginning at 1 p.m.