Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Following a 3-0 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win over SUNY Oswego (4-9, 1-5 SUNYAC) Saturday afternoon at the Turf Field, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (7-7, 3-3 SUNYAC) earned a berth into the inaugural SUNYAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed.

The Hawks needed some help from The College at Brockport and SUNY Oneonta to clinch, as the three entered Saturday in a three-way tie in the SUNYAC standings. However, Brockport and Oneonta faced a tough task, taking on the top two teams in the league Saturday afternoon. The Golden Eagles lost, 2-0, to first-place SUNY Geneseo, while the Red Dragons fell to No. 8 SUNY Cortland, 3-2, in overtime. Brockport will be the No. 4 seed in the SUNYAC tournament, holding the tie-breaker over Oneonta and Morrisville State College.

Geneseo locked up the No. 1 seed and will host the two-day event, which runs from Friday, Nov. 5 through Saturday, Nov. 6. New Paltz will play second-seeded Cortland at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 in the semifinals, and the winner will advance to Nov. 6's 1 p.m. championship game

Senior forward Sarah Schloss (Brant Lake, N.Y.) scored twice in the victory, which moves her within three goals of tying Patricia Erickson's career mark of 32, which she set from 2002-04. Schloss boasts 29 on her career and holds the program record for career assists (19) and points (77).

Despite missing wide on a penalty stroke at 6:37, sophomore defender Kim Lepore (Stanfordville, N.Y.) gained another opportunity to open scoring when she earned a penalty stroke in the 21st minute. She beat out Oswego's keeper, Jamie Scharfe, and put the Hawks on the board.

Scharfe stunned freshman defender Alyssa Stock (Morris Plains, N.J.) in the 31st minute, turning aside her penalty stroke attempt, which was New Paltz's third of the half.

At the intermission, New Paltz held a 17-4 edge in shots, but Oswego hung tough, holding the Hawks to one goal in spite of their chances.

Schloss turned and snapped a shot into the left-hand corner of the goal in the 42nd minute and tacked on an insurance score less than six minutes later in the 48th minute. Her first goal was unassisted, while sophomore defender Amy Lee (Farmington, Conn.) was credited with an assist on the second.

The Lakers clamped down during the stretch run, keeping the Hawks from adding to their three-goal advantage.

Schloss pounded shots left and right at the Oswego cage, uncorking eight on the game, six of which were on frame. Brittany Roetzer and Kelly Collins each took five shots for the Lakers. Three of Roetzer's attempts were on target, while Collins put two on frame.

Freshman goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y.) drew the start in goal for the Hawks and held Oswego scoreless for the opening 49:26 of the game, making four stops. Senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Dini (Sayville, N.Y.) took over for the remainder of the tilt, turning aside one shot over 20 minutes and 34 seconds of work. 

On the afternoon, the Hawks held a 22-13 edge in shots and took 11 penalty corners to Oswego's 10.

In net for Oswego, Scharfe made a game-high eight saves.

New Paltz next hosts the Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 4 p.m.