Box Score
Game Program

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 1, 2011) – Hartwick College junior forward Meghan Sweeney scored two goals within a five minute span of the second half to help the visiting Hawks break free from a tight 1-0 lead, to defeat the Vassar College field hockey team 3-1 in the season opener for both teams Thursday night at Weinberg Field.

Up until Sweeney's goals, which came at the 43:53 and 47:17 marks of the second half, the contest was tightly contested, with Hartwick nursing a 1-0 lead. The Brewers, who put significant pressure on the Hawks defense in the final eight minutes of the game, did get a late goal from senior forward Emily Maier with seven minutes remaining, which accounted for the 3-1 final.

The Brewers, 0-1, will host Keystone on Saturday at 2:00 pm. Hartwick will play its home opener on Saturday against Rochester.

The Hawks put early pressure on Vassar sophomore goalie Maggie Brelis, who made six saves in the game, four coming in the first half. With just 1:50 remaining until halftime, freshman midfielder Abby Weintlent scored the games first goal off a penalty corner, bouncing her shot past Brelis that was moderately deflected by a Brewer defender in the crease.

While Hartwick trailed in penalty corners 10-7, the Hawks made the most of their attempts. Sweeney's first goal – and the game's second – also came off a penalty corner, and was scored in similar fashion as Wentlent's. Her shot was able to trickle into the Vassar goal following scrum-like action in front of Brelis.

Hartwick's third and game-clinching goal was a picture perfect give-and-go effort that was initiated by junior forward Kelsey Kimble, who fed a streaking Sweeney along the left side of the field in transition. Sweeney's tally slipped past Brelis' left side.

Vassar, which had 13 shots in the game, put a flurry of pressure on Hartwick freshman goalie Devyn Staley, who replaced junior starter Megan Campbell with just under 14 minutes remaining. Campbell had three saves in the same. With just under eight minutes to play, the Brewers turning up the offensive pressure and earned four straight penalty corners, but were unable to convert.

Senior forward Emily Maier earned her first goal of the young season off a pinpoint pass from freshman Enya Cunningham. The senior was able to adeptly slip the ball into the left corner of the goal to get Vassar on the board. Maier had five of Vassar's 13 shots, with senior midfeidler Maura McCarthy and junior midfielder Rebecca Smith each with two shots.