Box Score

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – After a tied score at halftime, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (2-2) conceded a second-half goal, which proved to be the difference in a 2-1 non-conference loss to No. 10 Montclair State University (5-1) on Thursday night.

New Paltz got on the board first, as freshman midfielder/defender Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) buried a shot off a penalty-corner opportunity in the 10th minute. Freshman forward Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) was credited with the assist on the play.

At 17:29, Montclair State's Kate Norgard put away her fourth goal of the season, cashing in on a Michelle Hagel pass. That proved to be the halftime margin, which signified a closely-contested period in which Montclair State held a slight 10-8 edge in shots.

Hagel once again found the stick of a goal-scorer, assisting on a goal by Frances Schaefer in the 51st minute to provide the eventual margin of victory.

The Red Hawks held a 22-15 cushion in shots for the game, but New Paltz took nine penalty corners to Montclair State's seven.

Junior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) shouldered the loss, making six saves, while her counterpart, Megan Bosland, turned aside 11 shots in the victory.

New Paltz returns to the Turf Field on Saturday, Sept. 15, when it hosts Ramapo College at 1 p.m. in a non-conference contest.