Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team's (8-8-0, 4-4-0 SUNYAC) State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament hopes remained intact Friday afternoon on Alumni Field, as the Hawks won, 1-0, over visiting SUNY Oswego (5-9-1, 3-5-0 SUNYAC) in conference action.

If New Paltz ties or beats SUNY Cortland tomorrow, the blue and orange will qualify for its fifth-ever SUNYAC Tournament. A loss to the Red Dragons would put the Hawks on the outside looking in based on a tie-breaker that would go Cortland's way.

In a game defined by physical play, both teams combined for 10 cards, which included three red cards assessed to the Lakers. Two of those red cards were given to field players, while the third was handed out to the Oswego assistant coach.

Junior forward Jimmy Altadonna (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) netted his fifth goal of the season just 1:11 into the contest. Sophomore forward Harrison Lane (Glenmont, N.Y.) played a ball to Altadonna from the middle of the field, and Altadonna outran the defenders and forced a one-on-one opportunity with Oswego's keeper, Matt Wopperer. Wopperer, who came out to make the stop from around 16 yards out, turned aside Altadonna's first shot attempt, but the ball caromed in a direction where Altadonna could handle the rebound. He then fired off a second attempt, which easily found its way in the goal.

The Hawks pounded the Lakers for the first 10 minutes of play, taking nine shots in the first 7:47. Oswego, however, would begin to take over the possession game and kept New Paltz on its toes for the latter portion of the first stanza.

The Lakers continued to press in the second half, forcing freshman goalkeeper Conor Power (White Plains, N.Y.) into action five times. While Oswego outshot New Paltz, 12-8, in the final 45 minutes, red cards ultimately doomed the visitors. Oswego's first red card came at 81:24, while its final two red cards came at 86:15. Forced to play shorthanded, the Lakers were unable to mount a rally.

On the game, both teams had 20 shots, while New Paltz took eight corner kicks to Oswego's five.

Power earned his third shutout of the season in net for the Hawks, making a match-high seven saves. Wopperer halted five shots protecting the Laker net.

With the loss, Oswego was knocked out of SUNYAC Tournament contention.

New Paltz will celebrate its five seniors—goalkeeper Peter Carmel (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), defender Jason Fancie (Ossining, N.Y.) and forwards Dave Gardiner (Malta, N.Y.), Michael Ackerman (Castleton, N.Y.) and Frank Tloczkowski (New Hyde Park, N.Y.)—prior to the start of tomorrow's 1 p.m. SUNYAC contest against Cortland. The Senior Day ceremony will commence at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Alumni Field.