Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team (8-9-0, 4-5-0 SUNYAC) fell to the Cortland Red Dragons (6-10-1, 4-5-0 SUNYAC) in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) matchup, 1-0, held Saturday afternoon on Alumni Field. With the loss, the Hawks fall out of contention in SUNYAC postseason play, with Cortland holding the tie-breaker.

Prior to the start of the game, the team honored its five seniors: goalkeeper Peter Carmel (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), forwards Dave Gardiner (Malta, N.Y.), Michael Ackerman (Castleton, N.Y.), and Frank Tloczkowski (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) and defender Jason Fancie (Ossining, N.Y.).

The Hawks controlled the tempo of the game for most of the first half, as the blue and orange outshot Cortland, 19-3, in the first 45 minutes.

Gardiner and junior forward Jimmy Altadonna (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) led the way as they ripped a shot apiece in the first two minutes of play.

Minutes later, junior midfielder Tommy Garafola's (Richmond Hill, N.Y.) shot from a direct kick was saved by the Cortland keeper in the left upper 90.

In the 14th minute, Gardiner broke past Cortland's back line and the keeper, while he was out of net, however Gardiner's shot missed wide left.

Six minutes later, Garafola found Altadonna with a header inside the box. Altadonna's shot hit the crossbar, inches away from a score.

In the 33rd minute, sophomore defender Nicholas DiPaola (Huntington, N.Y.) penetrated past a Cortland defender with nifty footwork. DiPaola then uncorked a shot right of the goal from the far left wing.

In the 37th minute, junior forward Jamal Lis-Simmons (Highland, N.Y.) was relentless as he unleashed back-to-back shots from the top of the box. The latter one was saved by the diving Red Dragon netminder near the left post.

Junior midfielder Michael Santalesa (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) set up Gardiner in the 48th minute at the top of the box, and Gardiner's shot missed left of the post.

Garafola took a direct kick in the 59th minute which found Altadonna inside the box, Altadonna's header went wide right.

Three minutes later, junior midfielder Brendan Ujvary's (Kings Park, N.Y.) header was saved by the Cortland keeper off a Hawks' corner, extinguishing the scoring chance.

Cortland's Bryan DiBuono nearly made noise in the 67th minute when his shot from a direct kick was saved by Hawks keeper Conor Power (White Plains, N.Y.), keeping the game scoreless.

However, the Red Dragons struck in the 88th minute off a shot headed in by Steve Bartkowski. Brendan Wells recorded the assist on the play.

New Paltz held a 33-11 shot margin and a 10-4 edge in corners.

In between the posts for the Red Dragons, Patrick Pidgeon earned his second shutout of the season. Pidgeon compiled nine saves on the afternoon.

Power allowed one goal while assembling seven saves in 90 minutes of play.

New Paltz returns to action Wednesday, Oct. 27, when it travels to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for its last game of the season. Game time is set for 7 p.m.