NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (2-1) held a 4-2 lead over 15th-ranked Skidmore College (2-1) with 11:03 left on the clock in regulation, but the Thoroughbreds scored three unanswered goals to eke out a 5-4 non-conference win over the Hawks on Saturday at the Turf Field.

Senior forward Danielle Conklin (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) and Skidmore's Kelly Blackhurst had standout games offensively, with each notching two goals and two assists.

New Paltz grabbed a 2-0 lead midway through the first half. Senior midfielder Lauren Link (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West) blasted home a Conklin feed to open scoring at 20:19, while Conklin tipped in a pass from freshman forward/midfielder Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) nearly five minutes later. Blackhurst scored unassisted with under a minute left in the first half, giving the Hawks a 2-1 advantage heading into halftime.

New Paltz made it a 3-1 game at 52:39, with sophomore defender Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) using a Conklin pass to score on a penalty corner, but a minute later, the Thoroughbreds answered with a penalty-corner goal of their own, using a Blackhurst-to-Sam Skott connection. Less than a minute following that score, Conklin pushed the Hawk edge back to two with a goal from the right-hand side of the circle.

It took a few minutes for the Thoroughbreds to respond, and they strung together a series of offensive plays that ultimately vaulted them to victory.

Becca Halter started the rally at 58:58, scoring off a Blackhurst pass on a penalty corner. Blackhurst then tied the game at 4-all at 64:28, directing a Halter feed into the back of the cage. Thirty seconds later, Dani DeGregory found the stick of Skott, who buried the go-ahead goal. New Paltz was unable to respond, and Skidmore escaped with the win.

Senior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) made nine saves in the loss, while her counterpart, Haley McDougall, stopped three shots in the victory. Sophomore defenders Kelsey Fleury (Augusta, N.J./High Point Regional) and Sarah Sansone (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) each made a defensive save for New Paltz.

Skidmore held a 22-15 edge in shots and a 14-13 margin in penalty corners.

New Paltz completes its three-game home stand on Wednesday, Sept. 11, taking on nationally-ranked Montclair State University at 4 p.m.