Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Following an 8-1 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) victory over Morrisville State College (2-15, 0-6 SUNYAC) on Saturday afternoon at the Turf Field, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (12-4, 5-1 SUNYAC) earned the SUNYAC's regular-season crown, as it finished as the only one-loss team in league action. The is the first time that the Hawks have finished SUNYAC play as the top team in the conference.

With the regular season now wrapped up across the conference, the Hawks found themselves atop the SUNYAC standings. As the regular-season champion, New Paltz earns the No. 1 seed into the 2012 SUNYAC Field Hockey Tournament, which it will host from Friday, Nov. 2, through Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Turf Field. The Hawks face fourth-seeded SUNY Oneonta in the semifinal round on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m.

New Paltz also extended its winning streak to six games, and it has won eight of its past nine contests.

Saturday's game against Morrisville was largely a one-sided affair, with the Hawks holding a 5-0 halftime lead and a 32-10 margin in shots.

Senior forward Morgan Lizotte (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) opened scoring in the seventh minute, netting an unassisted goal that came off a scramble in front of the cage. Junior forward Alicia Aragosa (Schenectady, N.Y./Niskayuna) added to the lead at 8:06, scoring on a pass from freshman midfielder/defender Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) that came from the top of the circle. Lizotte scored once again in the 14th minute, cashing in on a pass from junior defender Alyssa Stock (Morris Plains, N.J./Whippany Park), and freshman forward Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) rattled the back of the cage off a Caruana feed in the 32nd minute. Just 2:10 before halftime, junior midfielder Lauren Link (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West) swelled the lead out to five with an unassisted marker.

Lizotte completed the hat trick—her second of the season—at 43:18, while sophomore forward Alex Gallo (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) directed a Link pass into the cage at 44:51. Morrisville's Jamie Anderson broke up the shutout bid in the 57th minute, scoring on a penalty stroke, but sophomore midfielder Deirdre O'Neill (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) tacked on one more goal in the 62nd minute to spell out the final tally.

Junior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) earned the win between the posts, stopping three shots in 35 minutes of work. Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Brennan (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) took over in the second half and turned aside four shots while allowing one goal. Nicole Gregg took the loss for the Mustangs, making a game-high 10 saves in a full 70 minutes of duty.

The Hawks continue regular-season action on Friday, Oct. 26, as they visit Wilkes University for a 4 p.m. game.