WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The visiting Hartwick College Hawks used a late goal to put away the Washington & Jefferson College field hockey team by a 2-0 score at Cameron Stadium Saturday afternoon in Empire 8 action. 

The win clinched an Empire 8 Tournament spot for the visiting Hawks, who broke the ice in the 20th minute of play when a penalty corner opportunity led to a goal. Sydney Gagnon, the Hawks leading goal scorer, took a pass from Brooke Singer and buried it in the back of the net from straight on. 

Rena Israel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) did her best to keep the Presidents in it. The junior goalkeeper made four saves during the final seven-plus minutes of the second quarter. The slew of saves allowed W&J to enter halftime with just a one-goal deficit. 

Neither team was able to muster much offense in the third quarter, as Hartwick was held without a shot. Meanwhile, the Presidents gained a penalty corner opportunity midway through the quarter but a Reghan Dunn (Earleville, Md./Bohemian Manor) shot attempt was saved by the Hawks goalkeeper. 

W&J recorded the first three shots of the fourth quarter, two of which came off the stick of Sofiya Bobrovnikova (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast). However, the Presidents were unable to find the equalizer. 

The Hawks put the game away for good when Bella Wheeler scored on a breakaway with just 37 seconds remaining. The insurance goal any hopes of a late comeback attempt by the Presidents.

Hartwick held advantages in shots (9-6), shots on goal (8-5) and penalty corners (5-1) during the match. Bobrovnikova paced the W&J offense with three shot attempts. Israel registered six saves in the loss. 

With the loss, W&J drops to 8-8 overall and 3-4 in Empire 8 play. The win improves Hartwick to 11-6 overall and 5-2 in conference action. 

Seniors Rachel Fromm (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg), Alexis Miller (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Kayla Boulas (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) and Lauren Griswold (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) were honored prior to the game. The 2019-20 senior class compiled a 54-20 overall record, which included a 23-7 mark in E8 play. The group of seniors contributed to two Empire 8 titles and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win during the 2018 season.