Second-Half Slump Hurt Hawks
Nicholas Clay hit the ground at least once during the first half of play

Second-Half Slump Hurt Hawks

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Box Score

HAMBURG, N.Y. – Challenged with facing a 2nd seeded AMCC team who also happened to be a cross-town rival, the Hilbert College men's soccer team played under control and did not back down from the challenge.  The Hawks held their composure and fought to the final horn while limiting the offensive power from Medaille College.  The Mavericks picked up a 3-1 victory and improved to 14-4 and 6-1 AMCC. 

Hilbert gave-up a quick score early in the half before they stifled the Maverick confidence with a game-tying goal in the 14th minute.   

Matt Hamister held the ball just over mid-field and side-stepped the defender which gave him daylight to push the ball towards the box.  Matthew Barth served the ball to the back of the net for his third goal of the season. 

But the Mavericks connected about 20-minutes later and rode a 2-1 advantage to half time on a playable but muddy field.

After the start of the second period, the visitors possessed the ball and found their teammates more often than Hilbert was able to.  The Mavericks outshot the Hawks 14-5, and of those shots, seven were on frame.  Jonathon Davison, in only his second start in goal, made six saves in that second-half Medaille rally. 

Medaille tripled Hilbert's shots effort (21-9) with five different players taking two or more attempts.  Hilbert finished with six players taking a shot and Barth was credited with team-best 3 attempts.

For the game Jonathon Davison collected nine saves (several point blank) while his opponent in the opposite end of the field made only four.  Both goalies had to be cautious the entire game worrying about their footing on the field and the potential for the game ball taking a funny bounce in the mud.

Hilbert (3-11-1, 1-6 AMCC) will complete their 2014 schedule with two road games this final week of the season.  The Hawks are set to play at Penn State Altoona (3-12, 1-5) Saturday in a 3pm contest and then Pitt-Bradford (3-13, 2-5) October 28th.
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