Box Score Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – After a first half in which it scored just six goals, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's lacrosse team (2-1) poured on 12 second-half markers, downing Smith College (1-2) by an 18-16 final in non-conference action at the Turf Field on Wednesday.

After freshman midfielder Lianne Valdivia (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) opened scoring 2:04 into the game, Smith answered with back-to-back goals from Mckenzie Hessel and Jessica Lillquist. Senior midfielder Julia Donato (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) cashed in off a pass from freshman midfielder Carissa Citro (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) before sophomore attack player Talia Tesler (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) netted an unassisted goal to put the Hawks on top 3-2, but the Pioneers went on to score three unanswered. Becky Bracken scored two goals in a span of 13 seconds, and her second marker with 19:01 to go in the first half gave Smith a 5-3 lead. Tesler scored with 18:05 to go in the first half before the Pioneers tacked on two more, and Valdivia buried her second goal of the contest with 14:40 left in the first stanza. Junior attack player Erin Tornatore (Glen Cove, N.Y./North Shore) scored unassisted sandwiched between two Smith markers to provide the halftime margin of 9-6.

Bracken scored less than a minute into the second half to give the Pioneers a 10-6 lead, but Tesler and junior attack player Brianna Horn (Wantagh, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) scored in sequence to draw the Hawks within two. Hessel found the back of the net off a free-position shot with 18:57 remaining in regulation to give Smith a three-goal cushion, but New Paltz scored five unanswered goals in a span of four minutes to gain its first lead of the afternoon. During that stretch, Valdivia scored twice, while Tornatore, senior attack player Samantha DelGaudio (Northport, N.Y./Northport) and freshman midfielder Julia Johnson (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) each scored once.

Smith rallied, netting three of the next four goals. Petru Bester scored, with Tesler countering with her fourth marker of the day. Lillquist and Meaghan Fileti each found the back of the net less than a minute later, though, and the Pioneers tied the score at 14-all. New Paltz put the game out of reach with a pair of goals from DelGaudio and a goal each by Tornatore and Tesler, which rendered scores by Smith's Lillquist and Hessel in the final 2:21 insignificant.

New Paltz outshot Smith by a 44-34 margin, but the Pioneers went 10-for-17 on free-position shots compared to the Hawks' 0-for-2 mark. Each team pressured the other in transition, as New Paltz went 11-for-18 on clear attempts, while Smith went 10-for-18. The Hawks were slightly better off the draw, controlling 19 draws to the Pioneers' 17.

Tesler led the way offensively for the Hawks with five goals on eight shots, while Valdivia netted four markers. DelGaudio dished out four assists and scored three times, while Tornatore registered three goals. Horn, Donato and Johnson all scored once. Johnson caused a game-high-tying four turnovers coming off the bench, while Tornatore posted the second-highest single-game draw control total in program history with 10. Citro, Tesler, Valdivia and Johnson each boasted a team-high four ground balls as well.

For Smith, Lillquist and Hessel managed four goals apiece, with Hessel offering the Pioneers' lone assist. Bracken notched three scores, while Bester rounded out the Smith scorers with a pair of goals. Bracken tied Johnson for the game-high in caused turnovers with four, while Bracken scooped up a game-high six ground balls. Bracken was also strong off the draw, tallying seven draw controls.

Senior goalkeeper Stefanie Mignone (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East) picked up the win in net for the Hawks, turning aside 12 shots, while her counterpart, Alina Pechacek, made 18 saves in the loss.

New Paltz travels to Long Island this weekend to face Farmingdale State College. Opening draw is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, in Farmingdale, N.Y.