Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (2-1) suffered its first loss of the 2012 season on Saturday afternoon, falling by a 3-1 final to eighth-ranked Skidmore College (3-0) in non-conference action. Senior forward Morgan Lizotte (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) scored the Hawks' lone goal, which came in the final two minutes of play.

Skidmore's Kelly Blackhurst was the star of the game, scoring once and tallying two assists. Blackhurst's goal was her sixth of the season.

Ceilidh MacNeill opened scoring in the 20th minute, as she scored off a deflection in front of the goal. That would prove to be the halftime margin, though the Hawks held a 6-4 edge in shots in the first half.

Sam Skott made it a 2-0 game at 47:25, burying a centering pass from Blackhurst. Skidmore continued to press the New Paltz defense in the second half, and Blackburn ended up putting the final touches on the victory with a goal at 66:35. Lizotte broke up the shutout bid in the waning moments of the contest, scoring off a deflection in the circle at 68:08. Junior midfielder Lauren Link (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West) was credited with the assist on the play.

The Thoroughbreds held a 15-9 advantage in shots, and they also took 11 penalty corners to the Hawks' seven. Junior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) made seven saves in the loss, while Haley McDougall turned aside six shots in the winning effort for Skidmore.

New Paltz returns to action on Thursday, Sept. 13, as it takes on Montclair State University at 7 p.m. in Montclair, N.J.