Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team stretched a 1-0 lead at halftime into a 5-1 blowout win over non-conference King's (Pa.) College Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field.

New Paltz (1-0-0) and King's (0-1-0) fought through scorching heat that touched up into the 90s, forcing both sides to utilize their benches to keep fresh legs on the pitch.

Senior forward Michael Ackerman (Castleton, N.Y.) struck first in the 23rd minute when he knocked in a ball that was bobbled by the Monarchs' netminder. At the end of the first stanza, the Hawks held an 11-2 margin in shots and had dominated possession.

It was only a matter of time, then, that New Paltz would break through the King's back line. Senior forward Dave Gardiner (Malta, N.Y.) doubled the tally with a goal off of a through ball in the 55th minute. Junior midfielder Michael Santalesa (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) found the back of the net in the 62nd minute, and just seconds later, sophomore forward Harrison Lane (Glenmont, N.Y.) tickled the twine to give the blue and orange a commanding 4-0 edge.

King's erased the shutout by means of an own goal in the 67th minute, but junior forward Jimmy Altadonna (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) put the game well out of reach when he capitalized on a scoring opportunity in transition with less than 10 minutes to play.

Ackerman and Gardiner each had a goal and an assist on the afternoon, while senior defender Jason Fancie (Ossining, N.Y.) and junior midfielder Tommy Garafola (Richmond Hill, N.Y.) keyed Altadonna's goal in the 83rd minute.

New Paltz finished with a 20-6 margin in shots and a 2-1 edge in corner kicks.

In between the pipes for the Hawks, junior goalkeeper Thomas Viscardi (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) made one save, while Mark Labbadia turned away five shots in goal for the Monarchs.

"This was a great start to the season," head coach Eric Watson said. "We will have to maintain this high level of play when we meet up with Stevens on Saturday."

New Paltz next takes on the Stevens Institute of Technology at Alumni Field at 1 p.m. on Saturday.