HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College women's soccer team gritted out a tough non-conference opponent this afternoon and stormed back for a 2-1 home opener victory over Chatham University.

Three seniors willed the win which improved the Hawks to 2-2 overall. 

"Jackie and Courtney's heads up play to score the game winning goal showed the poise our program needs from two of our seniors," said coach Kelly Starchok.  

Jackie Morgan earned a pair of points after assisting twice.  Jennifer Colvin opened the day with a header off a Morgan corner kick and Courtney Vaccaro filled an open lane taking a perfect feed for her game winning and first goal of the season.

Chatham, who suffered their first loss (2-1-1) has outshot their opponents by 80 shots through their first four games of the season.  The Cougars hold a 99-19 advantage with a 24.8 shots per game average and have attempted 29 corner kicks while setting up to defend only four opponent corners.

Hilbert got on the board in the 7th minute after Jackie Morgan lofted a perfect ball to the box and Jennifer Colvin elevated for a header to the back post.

Jenna Castricone survived 11 shots and three corner kicks before intermission and her four saves in that span carried the Hawks to a 1-0 lead.

The Cougars came out firing to start the second period as they rifled off five quick shots.  At 59:58 Katherine Luteri's corner kick broke back to the frame and a mishandled ball fell over the goal line which evened the score at 1-1.

Chatham continued to push the ball and maintained control of the pace as they held an 8-1 shot advantage until the final minute of play. 

The Hawks carried the ball up the right sideline and lifted it over the top to Vaccaro.  She had a defender marking her from behind and she pulled back without chasing the ball to prevent an off-sides call.  That change in pace caused the Cougar defender to fall asleep. 

Jackie Morgan sprinted in behind the only defender marking Vaccaro and took the ball from the center of the field to the right side.  That defender now was chasing Morgan so Vaccaro crossed to the left side of the frame.   Chatham's keeper came out to cut the shooting angle, but didn't defend the pass to Vaccaro.  Morgan delivered the ball in-stride and Vaccaro knocked it home uncontested.

 "I am very proud of the team today.  They showed a lot of character and grit especially in the last 10 minutes of play to push ahead for the win," said Starchok.

Jenna Castricone collected 10 saves, her first double-digit save game this season. 

Hilbert's defense performed well interrupting Chatham's attack and blocking a good handful of shots which took the pressure off Castricone.

Hilbert has three more home tests before the AMCC league play starts in two weeks.  The Hawks will welcome Thiel College this Tuesday (3pm) as a prelim to the men's game.