Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – With a 5-3 non-conference victory over Vassar College (7-5) on Friday afternoon at the Turf Field, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (10-4) set the single-season program record in wins (10), improving upon the former mark of nine that the 2010 squad set. The Hawks also won their fourth straight game.

Junior midfielder/forward Danielle Conklin (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) scored two goals and added an assist in the win, while freshman forward Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) dished out a pair of assists. Freshman midfielder/defender Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East), senior forward Morgan Lizotte (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) and sophomore forward Alex Gallo (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) all scored, while junior defender Alyssa Stock (Morris Plains, N.J./Whippany Park) registered an assist. For Vassar, Rebecca Smith and Enya Cunningham recorded a goal apiece, while Haley Merritt offered an assist.

The Hawks got on the board early, as the Ackerman-to-Conklin connection accounted for the first two goals, which happened in the 11th and 18th minutes. Lizotte scored off a Conklin feed in the 25th minute, which provided the halftime margin.

At 45:17, Caruana rattled the back of the cage off a penalty stroke, and Gallo made it a five-goal game in the 60th minute, directing a Stock pass into the cage.

Despite a five-goal deficit, the Brewers clawed back in the second half, scoring three times in the final 10 minutes of action. Smith used a Merritt feed to beat the New Paltz goalkeeper to the right at 61:55, and at 65:05, the Brewers reached the scoreboard off an own goal. Just 1:24 later, Vassar tallied another marker, with Enya Cunningham scoring unassisted. The Hawk defense clamped down from that point forward and prevented the Brewers from completing the comeback.

For the contest, New Paltz outshot Vassar, 24-7, but the Brewers held an 8-6 edge in penalty corners.

Junior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) earned the win, lasting 35 minutes and making one stop. Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Brennan (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) started the second half and made three saves with one goal allowed, while freshman goalkeeper Alayna Wagemann (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) played the final 8:05 and permitted two scores. Vassar's Maggie Brelis shouldered the loss, making eight saves while allowing five goals.

New Paltz returns to action on Friday, Oct. 19, when it visits SUNY Oneonta for a crucial State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game at 4 p.m.