Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (4-4, 1-1 SUNYAC) got back to .500 on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 victory over the visiting Ospreys from Richard Stockton. It was a day where youth and experience connected to lift the team to victory.

In the first half, the Hawks tested the Ospreys' defense with several opportunities off of penalty corners but were unable to capitalize. The Hawks outshot the Ospreys, 11-2, in the period, but the teams went into halftime in a scoreless deadlock. 

The Hawks came out strong in the second half, controlling possession of the ball and gaining confidence in the attacking third. New Paltz made the Osprey goalkeeper, Debi O'Kane, work between the pipes by taking 23 shots and forcing 11 saves and 10 penalty corners. 

It was off of one of those penalty corners when the Hawks broke the stalemate. With only 4:09 left on the clock, senior defender Alyssa Finck (Hudson, N.Y.) found freshman defender Alyssa Stock (Morris Plains, N.J.) to the left of the goal. She then blasted a shot past the goalkeeper to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. 

Less than two minutes later, the Hawks sealed the game with a different senior to freshman connection. This time, senior forward Sarah Schloss (Brant Lake, N.Y.) sent freshman forward Alana Costenbader (Whitehall, Pa.) through on goal, and she, too, was able to find the back of the cage, giving the Hawks a 2-0 advantage. 

Freshman goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y.) recorded her second career shutout for the Hawks behind a stellar defense that only gave up three shots on target all afternoon. 

New Paltz will return to action on Friday, Oct. 1, at 4:30 p.m. on the Turf Field, as they host Morrisville State College in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play.