ONEONTA, NY – Despite holding a 2-0 lead throughout most of the game, the Nazareth University field hockey team lost an Empire 8 league game in overtime against Hartwick College 3-2 on Saturday evening.
 
Nazareth is now 3-6 overall (2-2 E8), while Hartwick improves to 4-5 overall (2-1 E8).
 
The first quarter passed with many scoring attempts for the Hawks, with their best opportunity of the half coming within the last 20 seconds of the first. Sophomore goaltender Morgan Russo came up huge for the Golden Flyers with a save on a penalty stroke after a facing a flurry of  corner attempts and kept the game tied 0-0.
 
The second quarter began with more back-and-forth play, with each team managing several good scoring opportunities. However, the Golden Flyers struck first with just under three minutes remaining. After a great transition up the field, freshman Michaela Cushman passed the ball over to junior Audra Mieczkowski inside the top of the circle, who then was able to laser the ball past all the Hartwick defenders and goalie. Mieczkowski's goal gave the Golden Flyers the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
 
Less than five minutes into the third quarter Naz increased its lead to 2-0 off a great corner opportunity. Cushman again made a great pass out to the left of the circle for junior midfielder Haley Dimao, who swept the ball right by the right pad of Hartwick's goaltender. The goal was Dimao's second of the season.
 
Naz was unable to continue their success into the fourth quarter, and Hartwick managed to net their first goal on a corner attempt from the left side of the circle. 
 
With 2:13 left in the game Russo once again saved a penalty stroke.
 
Then, with only 17 seconds left in the game, the Hawks were able to capitalize on another corner for the tying goal, sending the game to overtime. 
 
Less than 30 seconds into overtime, Naz lost the ball in transition, and faced an odd-man rush that managed to tip the game-winning goal past Russo.
 
Russo ended the game with 15 saves and the Nazareth defense was 14 of 16 on penalty corners.
 
The Golden Flyers return home to face-off against Utica University on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. under the lights at NLPA Field.