NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (2-2) was able to draw within one goal of top-ranked Montclair State University (5-0) on Wednesday afternoon at the Turf Field, but a Red Hawk marker late in the second half wound up providing the 2012 NCAA Division III national runners-up the insurance they needed to eke out a 3-1 non-conference win.

Maura Johnston led Montclair State with a goal and an assist. Jennifer Tafro and Danielle Butrico also scored for the Red Hawks, while Gianna Moglino, Sierra Rauchbach and Brooke Hullings all had one assist. Sophomore forward Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Sachem East) accounted for the entirety of New Paltz's offensive production, as she scored unassisted in the second half.

The Red Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first half, as Tafro used passes from Moglino and Rauchbach off a penalty corner to score. While Montclair State only held a 1-0 edge at the halftime intermission, the Red Hawks finished the first 35 minutes of play with a 9-1 advantage in shots and a 5-1 margin in penalty corners.

Johnston gave Montclair State a 2-0 lead at 51:56, cashing in on a Hullings feed, but Ackerman put New Paltz on the board nearly five minutes later with a goal from the top of the circle. Butrico rattled the back of the cage off a Johnston pass at 63:44, and that gave Montclair State the separation it needed to notch the win.

Senior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) stood tall in goal for the Hawks, making 14 saves in the defeat. Her counterpart, Rebecca Brattole, turned aside two shots in the win.

For the contest, Montclair State held the upper hand in both shots (18-7) and penalty corners (7-4).

New Paltz is on the road for its next three games, beginning on Friday, Sept. 13, at 4 p.m. against Ramapo College.