Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Sophomore defender Beth Bowling's (Islip, N.Y.) three goals fueled the State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team's 3-0 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win over SUNY Potsdam Friday afternoon on Alumni Field. With the result, New Paltz moves to 6-6-1 overall and 4-2-0 in the league, while Potsdam falls to 9-5-0 overall and 1-4-0 in SUNYAC play.

Bowling's three goals, which were her first three scores of the year, tied the program's single-game record for goals and points. Jennifer Anselmi scored three times against SUNYIT in 2005, while Kerri Kelty notched two goals and two assists versus SUNY Oswego in 2006.

With the victory, the Hawks have now won five straight and have continued their streak of not allowing a goal in regulation this year on Alumni Field. New Paltz has held the opposition scoreless through 360 minutes of regular time on its home pitch. The lone goal that the blue and orange surrendered in regulation at home this year, which came against Geneseo on Oct. 2, occurred on the Turf Field.

Potsdam's Maggie Malinowski had the game's first shot in the third minute, shanking an attempt wide right from the top of the box.

The Hawks, however, had the contest's first legitimate scoring chance in the ninth minute, as sophomore midfielder Sarah DeMarzo (Mahopac, N.Y.) floated a shot to the top left upper 90, but Potsdam's Caitlin Titus made her first of seven saves of the afternoon, turning aside the chance. Junior midfielder Sherri Lajoie (River Edge, N.J.) then picked up the rebound, but Titus once again prevented the blue and orange from reaching the scoreboard, swatting away Lajoie's attempt.

The Bears nearly put one away when Heather Johnson had a one-on-one with sophomore goalkeeper Stephanie Vega (Oceanside, N.Y.) in the 19th minute, but Johnson shot wide right, keeping the tally knotted at zero. Lajoie also missed wide right, nearly scoring in the 22nd minute off of a cross from the left from sophomore forward Shelby Kondelka (Bloomingburg, N.Y.).

While the score remained in a scoreless deadlock at the intermission, the Hawks had dictated play throughout most of the first stanza. New Paltz held an 8-2 shot advantage and took two corner kicks to Potsdam's one.

The Hawks finally reaped the fruits of their labor in the second half, as Bowling connected on all three of her shot attempts that were placed on target.

In the 64th minute, she took a flick from Kondelka, who played the ball in from around 40 yards out. Bowling then turned and fired, finding the back of the net from around 10 yards out.

After a few looks from inside the 18 in the 74th minute, the Hawks finally doubled the tally when Bowling blasted an unassisted goal from 28 yards away from the net. Less than a minute later, she struck again, unleashing an attempt from around seven yards out on a corner by junior midfielder Alexa Balestrieri (Massapequa Park, N.Y.).

Cortney Poirier nearly cashed in for the Bears during the 85th minute, but Vega thwarted the scoring attempt.

On the afternoon, New Paltz outshot Potsdam, 15-4, and held a 5-3 cushion in corners.

Vega earned her sixth shutout of the year in net for the Hawks, making one stop. She now sits fifth all-time in single-season shutouts, equaling her 2009 total. Titus was charged with the loss in between the pipes for the Bears, halting a match-high seven shots.

The Hawks remain toward the top of the conference standings after today's results around the SUNYAC, owning a second-place total of 12 points. SUNY Oneonta survived a scare against SUNY Plattsburgh today in double overtime to remain atop the league standings with 13 points. Buffalo State and Plattsburgh are tied for third with 10 points, while SUNY Cortland sits in fifth with seven points.

New Paltz hosts SUNY Plattsburgh at 1 p.m. tomorrow in a SUNYAC contest. Prior to the start of the match, the Hawks will honor their five seniors, defenders Brittany Bennett (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Vanessa Rogers (Otisville, N.Y.) and midfielders Emily Buckner (Pine Bush, N.Y.), Tanja Todoric (Spring Valley, N.Y.) and Rebecca Devlin (Staten Island, N.Y.).