Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – A second-half rally by the State University of New York at New Paltz women's lacrosse team (3-2, 0-1 SUNYAC) was not enough to overcome a seven-goal halftime deficit, as Buffalo State (6-3, 1-0 SUNYAC) won by a 13-5 final in the 2013 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opener for both teams on Saturday at the Turf Field.

Buffalo State controlled the game from the get-go, netting the first seven goals of the contest. A marker by senior attack player Erin Tornatore (Glen Cove, N.Y./North Shore) off a free-position attempt with 17 seconds remaining in the stanza broke the Bengals' shutout bid, but Buffalo State entered halftime with a commanding 8-1 lead.

Goals by Ashley Caporizzo and Sarah Kirchberger helped Buffalo State break open a 10-1 advantage, but the Hawks countered with a rally midway through the second half. Tornatore and junior attack player Talia Tesler (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) each scored to make it a seven-goal game once more, and after a Kirchberger marker, Tornatore scored twice in a 2:29 span to pull the Hawks within six. Meghan Farrell and Caporizzo netted one goal each for Buffalo State in the final 5:41 of play, sealing the Bengals' conference-opening win.

Despite the score, each team posted 28 shots. Buffalo State controlled 11 draws to New Paltz's nine, and the Hawks committed 19 turnovers to the Bengals' 15. Buffalo State went 12-for-17 on clear attempts, while New Paltz went 10-for-18.

The difference in the game came from the Buffalo State goalkeepers, as Adelena DiDuro and Colleen George each played 30 minutes in the win. DiDuro saved four shots and allowed one goal in the first half, while George made a game-high-tying 11 stops in the second half and allowed four goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Jackie Ulanoff (Northport, N.Y./Northport) shouldered the loss for New Paltz, turning aside 11 shots while permitting 13 markers.

Tornatore fueled the Hawk offense with four goals, while Tesler scored once. Tesler also added two assists, while sophomore midfielder Julia Johnson (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) chipped in with one helper. Sophomore midfielder Carissa Citro (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) won four draw controls, while sophomore midfielder Erin Taylor (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) scooped up a game-high four ground balls.

For Buffalo State, Caporizzo led the way with three goals and four assists, and she also added five draw controls and two ground balls. Kirchberger scored four times, while Meghan Farrell, Becca Martinez and Niki Paulhardt all scored twice.

New Paltz looks to get back in the win column on Wednesday, April 2, as it takes on SUNY Potsdam at 4 p.m. in Potsdam, N.Y.