HAMBURG, N.Y. – After 45 minutes of scoreless action, the Hilbert College women's soccer team pulled together, focused on their game plan and pulled off the program's first-ever victory over Franciscan University dating back to the 2007 season.  Hilbert took the  2-0 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory against the Barons during True Blue Weekend. 

The Hawks earned their fourth consecutive and fifth shutout win this season and a lot of the credit should be given to Hilbert's defensive back line who continue to make goalie Jenna Castricone's job easier when hustling between the pipes.

At half time, the coaching staff and players both realized they needed to open up the game.

"We have been talking all off-season about writing our own future and that it is imperative to get the first conference win.  We needed to put their backline under pressure while keeping possession," said coach Kelly Starchok.   "The Hawks responded and stepped up their efforts while sticking to the game plan." 

It wasn't until the 78th minute that Jennifer Colvin created her own look from the point.  The senior midfielder took a hard shot off center about 30 yards out and beat the Franciscan keeper up high for the game winner.

Franciscan was pushing to force overtime and Hilbert was playing with purpose and with each other for the win.

Shannon Rogers carried the ball from the left corner and cut back towards the point, beating a defender.  She chipped the ball over the goalie at 89:38 to pad the lead helping the Hawks secure the victory.

Coach Starchok continued "I am extremely proud of the team for fighting to the very last minute to get that AMCC win under our belt." 

Hilbert's defenders (Jordan Collins, Brooklynn Gormel, Nicole Plucinski and Imarie Waller) were solid today.  Very little got past them in the second half, even when it looked like Franciscan was getting ready to roll. The Hawks limited the Barons to just four shots after the break with Castricone making a pair of saves to secure her shutout.

Gormel made a great connection with the ball in front of the net in the 75th minute, preventing a-sure goal from counting.  Castricone made a huge save off a defensive corner kick with just over three minutes left in the game (when it was still a 1-goal difference).  Jordan Collins and Imarie Waller stepped in front of the Baron's players and knocked passes away time and time again.

Hilbert is ready to host their second home AMCC game against cross-town rival Medaille (0-6, 0-0 AMCC) this Tuesday, September 27 at 2pm.  This match is also the very first BUFFFALO CUP game the Hawks will be competing in to start the 2016 season.