Box Score Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – With less than four minutes remaining, junior midfielder Beth Bowling (Islip, N.Y./Islip) scored the deciding goal in a 1-0 shutout victory for the State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team (10-5-1, 5-2-0 SUNYAC) over SUNY Oneonta (6-6-1, 4-2-1 SUNYAC) on Tuesday afternoon in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play at Alumni Field, breaking a 23-year-old winless streak for the Hawks against the Red Dragons.

New Paltz last defeated Oneonta in 1988, when the Hawks took a 1-0 decision en route to a 10-3-2 overall record, with a program-best winning percentage of .733.

Junior goalkeeper Stephanie Vega (Oceanside, N.Y./Baldwin Senior) notched her ninth shutout of the season in her victorious effort, setting a single-season program record. The previous record of eight shutouts in a season had been reached on three occasions (Laura Neander in 1999, Sarah Boccard in 2007 and 2008). Vega recorded seven saves on the day.

Bowling scored the only marker of the game at 86:12, when she received a cross from senior midfielder Alexa Balestrieri (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) at the top of the box, cashing in with a right-footed rocket to net. It was Bowling's fifth goal of the season.

In a game that started quiet and methodical, the tempo and emotion increased with two dual yellow cards at 27:26 and 41:50. Oneonta took more chances, outshooting New Paltz, 23-9, while putting more shots on frame, 7-3. However, Vega was able to shut down the scoring chances of the Red Dragons without issue, while Oneonta goalkeeper Amy Lusby was unable to corral the eventual game-winner.

Tuesday's matchup was a makeup game from the originally-scheduled meeting between the two teams set for Friday, Oct. 14.

The Hawks look to clinch a spot in the 2011 SUNYAC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament in the coming days, finishing their season with two home SUNYAC contests on Friday, Oct. 21, against SUNY Fredonia at 3 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 22, against Buffalo State at 1 p.m. Both games will take place at Alumni Field.