ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick-Oneonta women's soccer game was an epic back and forth battle for over 105 minutes of action Wednesday night on Elmore Field. The Hawks had leads in each half, but the Red Dragons responded deep into both periods. Oneonta scored the game-winner in the second overtime to secure a 3-2 win and send the Hawks to a heartbreaking result after a heroic effort.
          
Field conditions were treacherous throughout the game due to heavy rains earlier in the day. A torrential downpour continued from the start of the second half to the end of the match.
          
The Hawks led for 77:41 of tonight's game and were just 5:49 from the victory until senior Avery Serfis (West Hurley/Onteora) took a pass from sophomore Laura Rolston (New City/Clarkstown South) and scored the tying goal with a far-post shot.  Senior Taylor Messina (Smithtown/Smithtown East) won it for Oneonta after Paige McDermott (Floral Park/Kellenberg Memorial) received a quick throw-in which skipped past a 'Wick defender. McDermott centered the ball to Messina who was all alone 15 yards from goal. She put her shot away just inside the far post for the Red Dragon victory.
          
The night couldn't have started any better for Hartwick as it surged ahead just 1:19 into the game. The Hawks won an early corner, which was taken by Kiley Richardson. Her service flew right into the mixer where Madison Miller was there to head home her fourth goal of the season from inside the six-yard box.
          
Megan McGillycuddy made a number of critical saves for the Hawks the rest of the half. Five minutes after the Hawks scored, she stuffed Kayla Distin (Fulton/G. Ray Bodley) from in close. She then made another point-blank stop on a Jessica Lyden (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills) effort with 24 minutes remaining in the period. Eleven minutes later, following a giveaway at the back, she made another huge save on a breakaway from Amanda Roney (Schoharie /Middleburgh).
          
The Red Dragons finally broke through 1:15 before halftime. A ball played in from Roney on the far sideline skipped through the box in front to freshman Jess Downin (Franklin/Franklin Central), who settled the ball, and scored from just inside the penalty spot.
          
Hartwick started strong again at the beginning of the second half and were rewarded 3:56 into the stanza. Casey Boucher had the ball 20 yards from goal and tucked a perfect angled pass in to freshman Rachel Weir, who buried her shot to give her team the advantage, 2-1.
          
The rest of regulation was even with both teams registering seven shots apiece. Allie Ricci had a shot saved by Oneonta keeper Rori Stark (Brewster/Brewster) in the 40th minute, and Boucher and Hanna Konash both had good chances go high of the target in the 76th and 79th minute, respectively.
          
Oneonta had a good opportunity with just over nine minutes remaining when a Distin shot beat McGillycuddy through her legs and looked certain to go in, but Richardson was there to clear the ball off the line.
          
Five minutes later, the Red Dragons drew even on Serfis' sixth goal of the season and the game would head to extra time.
          
Neither team generated much through nearly the first sixteen minutes of overtime before Messina's winner sealed it for the Red Dragons.
          
Oneonta would finish the match with a 23-12 edge in shots. McGillycuddy would register a season- and career-high 10 saves in goal for the Hawks. Starting goalkeeper Kelley Murphy (Albany/Colonie Central) and Stark combined for four saves for the Red Dragons. 
          
Hartwick's record now stands at 10-4-2, while Oneonta improves to 12-3-2.
          
Oneonta will now prepare for its SUNYAC tournament semifinal match at home next Wednesday, Nov. 4 beginning at 11am.