Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's lacrosse team (3-0) scored six goals in the first five minutes of Tuesday afternoon's non-conference clash with Mount Saint Mary College (0-4) at the Turf Field, cruising to an 18-6 victory. The Hawks' 3-0 record not only is the best start in program history, but it also marks the first time that the program has won three consecutive games.

Sophomore midfielder Brittany Hunt (Saugerties, N.Y.), sophomore attack player Juli Rehain (Suffern, N.Y.), junior attack player Samantha DelGaudio (Northport, N.Y.), senior midfielder Bridgitte Hooker (Glens Falls, N.Y.) and freshman midfielder Talia Tesler (Rochester, N.Y.) all scored in the first five minutes of the contest with Hunt doing so twice, opening up an early 6-0 lead. DelGaudio scored again at 17:41 of the first half, but Erica Massmann put the Knights on the board with an unassisted score less than a minute later. DelGaudio then ripped in three straight goals in the span of 1:11 to put the Hawks on top, 10-1. Kaileen Spadaro scored for Mount Saint Mary to delay the 10-goal advantage, and sophomore attack player Meredith Henshaw (Rock Tavern, N.Y.) found the back of the net to put New Paltz back up nine. Mount Saint Mary's Ellen Cashin made it an eight-goal game again, but the Hawks went on a three-goal tear to end the half, taking a lopsided 14-3 advantage into the break.

The Hawks cooled off in the second stanza, possessing the ball well while keeping the Knights from coming back within 10. New Paltz scored four second-half goals, while the Mount Saint Mary put away three.

New Paltz outshot Mount Saint Mary, 31-19, and outgained the Knights in ground balls (26-19) and draw controls (14-12) as well. The Hawks were 10-of-14 on clear attempts, while the Knights were just 6-of-14. Each team scored a free-position goal, with Mount Saint Mary going 1-for-3 and New Paltz going 1-for-1.

DelGaudio paced the Hawk attack with five goals and two assists, while Hunt delivered three goals and one assist. Junior midfielder Julia Donato (Fayetteville, N.Y.) buried three scores, while Tesler, sophomore midfielder Erin Tornatore (Glen Cove, N.Y.), senior midfielder Bridgitte Hooker (Glens Falls, N.Y.), Rehain, senior midfielder Brittany Bennett (Smithtown, N.Y.), Henshaw and freshman attack player Rashidat Soetan (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each found the back of the net once. Rehain and Bennett also added two assists, while Hunt and Tesler each offered one. DelGaudio caused a team-high three turnovers, while Bennett was strong off the draw with four draw controls. Donato scooped up a game-high five ground balls as well. In goal, junior goalkeeper Stefanie Mignone (Farmingville, N.Y.) earned the win, making eight stops.

Mount Saint Mary was led by Cashin, whose three goals led all Knight scorers. Nicole Palmieri, Massmann and Kaileen Spadaro also scored for Mount Saint Mary, while Massmann also chipped in with one assist. Molly Bauer had three caused turnovers, while Palmieri claimed four draw controls. Three different Knights picked up three ground balls.

New Paltz takes a weeklong respite from competition before traveling to Northampton, Mass., for a 4:30 p.m. non-conference contest against Smith College on Tuesday, March 22.