Box Score Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team (0-1-0) fell by a count of 2-0 to non-conference Vassar College (1-0-0) Thursday afternoon at the Turf Field despite controlling play for much of the first half. The contest served as the season opener for both teams.

The Hawks held the upper hand in the possession game for a good portion of the first stanza. Senior midfielder Alexa Balestrieri (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) sprung Vassar keeper Ali Higgins into action with a shot from the top of the box in the 23rd minute, but Vassar retaliated with shots on target from Keiko Kurita and Lily Lanier in the 28th minute.

Junior midfielder Sarah DeMarzo (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) nearly scored off of a set piece at 34:55, but Higgins thwarted the opportunity.

At 39:09, Vassar broke the scoreless stalemate when Sarah Bourenane fed a ball from the midfield to Gavriella Kaplan, who then found herself in a position to beat junior goalkeeper Stephanie Vega (Oceanside, N.Y./Baldwin Senior) in the box.

The Brewers amped up their play in the second frame, taking 11 shots to New Paltz's four. In the 61st minute, Kelsey Domb buried a goal off of a Kurito corner kick, tucking the ball inside the left post off of a header.

On the game, Vassar outshot New Paltz by an 18-11 cushion and took five corner kicks to the Hawks' three.

Vega shouldered the loss in net for the Hawks, making four stops, while Higgins posted a three-save shutout.

New Paltz returns to action this weekend, hosting the inaugural Michelle Vargas-Robin Memorial Tournament. The Hawks square off with Maritime College at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, and face New Jersey City University at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4.