Box Score

DANBURY, Conn. – Despite outshooting Western Connecticut State University (3-0) by a 17-7 margin, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (2-1) dropped a 2-0 decision to the host Colonials on Thursday night in non-conference action.

Alyssa Picariello was unbeatable in the cage for Western Connecticut, stopping eight shots in the shutout effort. She played well under pressure, as all eight saves came in the second stanza. Sophomore goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) shouldered the loss in goal for New Paltz, making two stops.

Western Connecticut got on the board in the 19th minute, as Rachel Duffy rattled the back of the cage off of a rebound. The Colonials extended that advantage at 43:14 of the second half when Brittany Barra cashed in on a Lauren Atkinson feed, blasting a shot from the left side.

Both teams took nine penalty corners, and sophomore forward Lauren Link (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West) paced the New Paltz attack with five shots, one of which was on goal.

The Hawks face a tough test on Saturday, Sept. 10, as they square off with seventh-ranked Skidmore College at 1 p.m. in their 2011 home opener at the Turf Field.