This is Hartwick College

2 0 0 8 H A R T W I C K S O C C E R
Mid-American Conference
In 2008, the Mid-American Conference will have a bit of a new
look in men’s soccer. A year ago, Hartwick
replaced former affiliate member IPFW, which
moved into the Mid-Continent Conference. In
2008, Florida Atlantic was invited to join as an
affiliate member. The full-fledged league members
that sponsor men’s soccer include Akron, Bowling
Green, Buffalo, Northern Illinois, and Western
Michigan.
The Mid-American Conference added men’s
soccer to its resume in time for the 1993 campaign.
In that year, Akron began its league dominance by
capturing the league’s regular-season title. The Zips
have either outright won or shared the title 10 out of 15 years. The
University of Kentucky, a former member, stands in second with
four regular-season titles, while Bowling Green is third with three.
Marshall, Miami of Ohio, and Northern Illinois each have one to
their credit.
Despite playing the 1993 season, the conference didn’t hold
its first league tournament until the following year. In 1994, Miami
captured its lone tournament title. Since then,
Akron has won five, while Bowling Green and
Kentucky registered three league tournament
titles. Western Michigan and Northern Illinois have
the other two. Akron returns as the league
regular-season and tournament champion. The
Zips downed Northern Illinois 2-1 in double
overtime and beat Buffalo in the title game 1-0 to
advance to the NCAA tournament. Akron fell to
South Florida 1-0 in the opening round.
The Zips have had past success in the NCAA
Tournament. In 2003 and again in 2005, Akron
advanced to the third round of the championship, which is the
farthest a program in the league has gone.
Elmore Field
Elmore Field has been home to the men’s soccer program
since 1956. Including their 3-1-3 home record in 2007, the
Hawks have a 261-74-25 record on their home turf. The
postseason has been even better, with Hartwick winning 23 of
26 outings.
The field, constructed in 1949, was made possible by a gift
from Earl Elmore, who owned feed mills in downtown Oneonta.
In 1987, Hartwick played its home games at Damaschke
Field in Oneonta while Elmore was reconstructed, giving the
field excellent drainage. The renovation created bleacher seating
for up to 2,000 fans and increased Elmore’s field size to
120’ X 75’, full regulation length and width.
Former Hartwick soccer player John Bronson ’70 donated
funds to put lights on Elmore in time for the 1998 season.
Fans traveling to Elmore in 2008 will notice some additional
changes to the complex. During the 2007 camapign, a
memorial in honor of the late and former Hartwick great Glenn
“Mooch” Myernick ’77 was added at the base of the complex.
Signage boards, which surround the pitch, give Elmore a much
different look as well. Hartwick will also be adding other fixtures
to the complex in the coming years.
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