By Courtney A. Erickson

Contributing Writer

ONEONTA — Advantage, Hartwick .

As in home-field advantage.

That’s what the Hawks stole from an overmatched Oneonta State men’s soccer team Saturday with a 3-0 Atlantic Soccer Conference victory at Red Dragon Field.

It’s also what 13th-ranked Hartwick (10-3-1, 4-0) earned for the first ASC Tournament, albeit a day later. The Hawks became untouchable atop the standings Sunday, when Longwood University beat Philadelphia, 3-1.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]Hartwick showed no signs of a letdown in its first game since beating sixth-ranked St. John’s, 2-1, on Oct. 19, extending its unbeaten streak to six games in front of 523 fans.

Austin McCann scored 7 minutes, 10 seconds in and Kipp Erskine followed with a goal six minutes later en route to a 2-0 Hartwick lead at the half.

The Hawks, 15-2-1 all-time against the Red Dragons, took advantage of O-State mistakes for both goals.

Chris Greatwich earned an assist when he stole the ball around midfield and passed to McCann. He reached the 6-yard box without a challenge and beat losing goalie Tim Melia to the lower left-corner.

"I made a run on the outside," McCann said of his goal, which gave him seven this season, tied with John Paul Boyle for the team lead. "(Greatwich) laid a perfect ball and I just chipped it back post. I was open in front of the keeper. I feel like I am the speed up front, so I like the balls in behind, making runs off the ball and putting through balls. I’ve just been enjoying it."

Said Greatwich: "The ball broke for me in the middle of the field and I attacked the two centerbacks, went past one and the play opened up and I just slid McCann in for a relatively easy finish. That goal settled our nerves and enabled us to play. It opened the game up a lot for us and I felt we were able to play some of the best stuff we’ve played this year."

Hartwick drew a foul about 25 yards out and received an indirect kick that set up the second goal. Chris Sardon lofted a pass to the 6-yard box, where Kipp Erskine beat an oncoming Melia with a header over the goalie.

"The cross came in, bodies went for it and our goalie came out as well," O-State coach Iain Byrne said. "If your goalie comes, he’s got to get there and he just didn’t get there and they split it in. Twelve minutes gone and you’re two-nil down against a side like that? That’s a tall order."

It also was a big boost for Hartwick, which played O-State (6-8-2, 2-2-1) without starting goalie Josh Wagenaar. The Hawks’ defense made it easy for freshman Joseph Gibson, though, allowing seven shots that resulted in two saves for the shutout.

"(Gibson) was a calm presence back there and we think he’s going to be a very good goalkeeper for us," said McIntyre, who added that Wagenaar is out indefinitely with a fifth-metatarsal fracture in his right foot. "(Gibson’s) going to be the future of the program. It was good for him to have an opportunity out there today, and I thought he did very well."

Greatwich capped the scoring 4:18 after halftime, outhustling Melia on a cross to the goal line from Barry Pearson.

"The cross from Barry was exceptional," Greatwich said. "He’s probably the best crosser on our team. He left the ball for me and I couldn’t really miss from 2 yards out.

"It was a relatively easy finish."

HARTWICK 3, O-STATE 0

Hartwick 2 1 — 3

O-State 0 0 — 0

Hartwick (10-3-1, 4-0-0): Austin McCann 1-0, Chris Greatwich 1-1, Kipp Erskine 1-0, Chris Sardon 0-1, Barry Pearson 0-1.

O-State (6-8-2, 2-2-1): None.

Shots-corners: H 15-5; O 7-4.

Fouls-offsides: H 7-0; O 5-0.

Goalies: Joseph Gibson (H) 2; Tim Melia (O) 5.