ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Graduate student Cuneyt Vardar scored a goal in each half, pushing his season total to 10, as Nazareth downed Hartwick 2-1 to open up Empire 8 play on Saturday.
 
Nazareth moves to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in Empire 8 play, while Hartwick falls to 1-4-1 and 0-1 in conference play.
 
Just two minutes into the contest Vardar nearly opened up the scoring, blasting a shot off the crossbar from inside the 18-yard box.
 
The Golden Flyers kept up the pressure and made good on an opportunity in the 26^th minute. Vardar scored his ninth goal of the season, taking a long through ball from midfield from Drew Decker and tucked it left footed into the near post corner. Decker now has three assists on the season.
 
It was 1-0 at the half.
 
Vardar made Hartwick pay for an errant back pass at the 63^rd minute, gathering and firing it past the Hawks keeper for his 10^th goal of the season.
 
The Hawks upped their pressure thereafter and eventually found the back of the net off a corner kick in the 78^th minute.
 
Logan Menna held strong down the stretch to help preserve the win. He made seven saves in net for the Golden Flyers.
 
Nazareth will host its second consecutive home game on Tuesday with Alfred State coming to town for a 7 p.m. contest at the Artificial Turf.