Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (6-3) opened up a 2-0 lead that proved to be insurmountable for Richard Stockton College (2-8), as the Hawks topped the visiting Ospreys, 2-1, in a non-conference game on Saturday afternoon at the Turf Field.

Both goalkeepers enjoyed outstanding afternoons, with junior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) stopping eight shots in the win and Richard Stockton's Sara Winters making nine saves in the loss. To boot, freshman midfielder/defender Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) and the Ospreys' Jenny Carpenter each made a defensive save.

After a hard-fought opening to the contest, freshman forward Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) earned an unassisted goal in the 20th minute, blasting a shot from around the top of the circle through the goalkeeper's legs to give New Paltz an early 1-0 advantage. Richard Stockton unleashed two shots on goal in the final two minutes of the first period, including one that Pjetri turned away right before the end-of-period horn.

After one half of play, both teams were even in shots (9-9), but the Hawks had eight penalty corners to Richard Stockton's four. While the shot margin favored New Paltz, 16-10, in the second half, the Ospreys hung tough and had plenty of chances to capture the lead.

At 42:24, junior midfielder Lauren Link (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West) provided the game's second goal, cashing in on a pass from Caruana, which came off a penalty-corner opportunity. The Ospreys came within one at 58:58, with Katie Carpenter stealing the ball from a Hawk defender in the circle and netting an unassisted marker.

Richard Stockton had a chance to tie the game in the final moments, as it received a penalty-corner opportunity as time expired. A foul committed by the Ospreys, though, changed possession, which promptly ended the contest.

On the afternoon, New Paltz outshot Richard Stockton, 25-19, and held a 15-11 cushion in penalty corners.

The Hawks host No. 20 Rowan University tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. in a non-conference contest.