Box Score

GLASSBORO, N.J. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team trailed, 5-2, at halftime and ended up falling, 6-4, to non-conference Rowan University on Saturday evening at Coach Wackar Stadium.

After New Paltz took an early 2-1 lead, Rowan netted four straight goals to build a 5-2 edge heading into halftime. The Hawks, who finished with an 18-12 cushion in shots and a 14-6 advantage in penalty corners, were unable to complete the comeback in the second half, and the host Profs dealt New Paltz a South Jersey loss for the second Saturday in a row.

New Paltz drops to 7-6 overall and next faces Union (N.Y.) College on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m. at the Turf Field. Rowan rises to 6-5 and visits the Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The Hawks kick started the offense just 2:25 into the game, as freshman forward/midfielder Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) fed a pass across the circle, and sophomore forward Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) knocked the ball to the left side of the cage. Rowan's Jenna Pressler tied the score at 1-all at 10:12, cashing in on a shot off a breakaway. New Paltz regained the lead less than a minute later, as senior forward Danielle Conklin (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) tipped in a cross from the left side of the cage.

Rowan's offensive tear began at 18:29 with an Erika Mecchella goal from the top of the circle, and it continued at 23:04, as Johanna James directed a Kellie Campbell pass into the left-hand side of the cage. Aubrey Fisher scored unassisted at 25:54 to give the Profs a two-goal lead, while Campbell took an Amy McKeever pass into the left side of the cage at 30:08 to complete the run.

Despite the fact that the Hawks trailed by three goals at the break, New Paltz had outshot Rowan, 12-8, in the first half.

New Paltz got back on the scoreboard at 50:39, as Conklin found the stick of sophomore defender Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East), who buried a goal from the top of the circle. Pressler scored her second marker of the contest at 60:29 to put Rowan back up by three, but Ackerman answered five minutes later with a goal off a penalty corner to round out the scoring.

Senior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) was saddled with the loss, making one save in 29:05 of action. Sophomore goalkeeper Alayna Wageman (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) took over in the cage for the final 40:55 and made two stops. Steph Colombo notched the win for Rowan with a two-save effort.