DANBURY, Conn. – After a season in which the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team won the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title and qualified for the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament, the Hawks (1-0) look capable of matching that success in 2013 after shutting out non-conference Western Connecticut State University (0-1), 6-0, in the season opener for both teams on Saturday at The WAC.

Senior midfielder/forward Danielle Conklin (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) and sophomore midfielder/defender Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) helped key the New Paltz attack, as each notched two goals. In addition, Caruana provided an assist to finish the day with five points. Freshman forward Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) and senior forward Alicia Aragosa (Schenectady, N.Y./Niskayuna) also scored for the Hawks, while senior defender Alyssa Stock (Morris Plains, N.J./Whippany Park) chipped in with two assists.

After 30 minutes of scoreless play, New Paltz eventually found the back of the cage, as Conklin directed a Caruana feed into the goal at 30:33. McKeveny gave the Hawks a two-goal cushion heading into halftime, using a Stock pass to score just three minutes later.

The floodgates opened late in the second half, as New Paltz netted four markers in the final 12 minutes of play. Conklin scored off a Stock pass at 59:25, while Caruana scored on a penalty corner at 61:41. Senior midfielder Lauren Link (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West) and freshman forward Erin Landy (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) were credited with assists on the goal. Caruana scored unassisted at 67:18, while Aragosa boasted an unassisted goal just 1:20 later to cap the Hawks' scoring spree.

Senior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) earned the shutout win, making three stops in a full 70 minutes of action. Kristy Trotta was saddled with the loss for Western Connecticut, turning aside nine shots while allowing three goals. Courtney Hearn completed the game in between the posts for the Colonials, stopping two shots while permitting three goals.

New Paltz held a 40-6 edge in shots and took 16 penalty corners to Western Connecticut's two.

New Paltz opens up a three-game home stand on Wednesday, Sept. 4, as the Hawks entertain non-conference William Paterson University at 4 p.m.