Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team earned its first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win of 2014 on Friday at Alumni Field, as the Hawks blanked SUNY Plattsburgh, 2-0.

Despite being outshot, 19-15, on the afternoon, New Paltz relied on a 15th-minute goal by senior defender Bryce Kristall (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) that ended up being the game-winner. The Hawks, who saw an increased amount of scoring chances in the final 20 minutes of the contest, put the game on ice in the 90th minute, as senior midfielder Eleni Anselmi (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland) scored on a penalty-kick opportunity.

New Paltz rises to 7-5-2 overall (1-2-2 SUNYAC) with the win and hosts SUNY Potsdam in its final regular-season home game of the season at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Plattsburgh drops to 6-4-1 (2-1-1 SUNYAC) and visits SUNY Oneonta tomorrow at 1 p.m.

In a first half that saw a limited amount of scoring opportunities, New Paltz found a way to cash in on its lone corner kick of the half. Junior midfielder Kristina Gandolfo (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) played in a low corner kick from the left-hand side of the field, and Kristall quickly turned and fired the feed into the back of the goal for her second marker of the season.

That 1-0 lead stood up for the rest of the half, despite the fact that Plattsburgh attacked well. The Cardinals' best scoring chance in the first 45 minutes of play came off a shot by junior midfielder Cassidy Clavet that clanged off the crossbar in the 26th minute.

Plattsburgh appeared destined to net the equalizer in the early goings of the second stanza, taking eight shots in the first 20 minutes of the new half. New Paltz, however, reversed the momentum from that point forward, spending the majority of the latter portion of the second half in its attacking third. The Hawks were awarded a penalty kick in the final minute, which Anselmi buried into the back of the net to lock up a crucial conference win for New Paltz.

In spite of the loss, Plattsburgh's Clavet served as the go-to offensive option for the Cardinals. Clavet fired off eight shots on the match, two of which were on goal.

Freshman goalkeeper Katelyn Cordero (Airmont, N.Y./Suffern) earned her fourth shutout of the season, which she preserved by making seven stops. Senior goalkeeper Danielle Schmitt turned aside four shots in the loss for Plattsburgh.

In addition to outshooting the Hawks, 19-15, the Cardinals outgained New Paltz in corner kicks, 7-4.