Box Score

UNION, N.J. – A goal by senior midfielder Deirdre O'Neill (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) with 31 seconds to go before halftime gave the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team a lead it would not relinquish, as the Hawks edged non-conference Kean University, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at Kean Alumni Stadium.

Despite the close final score, New Paltz held a significant upper hand in both shots (23-9) and penalty corners (15-9). O'Neill helped pace the Hawk attack, scoring a goal and adding an assist.

New Paltz rises to 9-4 overall with the win and visits SUNY Oneonta on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. for a key State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) match-up that will likely determine the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Kean drops to 9-5 overall and hosts The College of New Jersey on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

Senior forward Alex Gallo (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) opened scoring in the 10th minute with an unassisted marker that she directed into the cage off an initial goalkeeper save. The Cougars countered at 23:23, though, as junior midfielder Marissa Robinson scored off a feed from junior forward/midfielder Chelsea Mann. O'Neill broke the 1-all tie in the 35th minute, redirecting a powerful shot from junior forward/midfielder Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) into the back of the cage.

Freshman forward Justine O'Reilly (West Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) made it a two-goal game in the 52nd minute, tipping in a pass from O'Neill. Kean made things interesting down the stretch, as Mann cut the deficit to one at 64:56 after she scored on a low-lined shot. Following a New Paltz timeout, the Hawks were able to regroup defensively and prevent the Cougars from gaining any scoring chances in the final 5:04 of play.

Junior goalkeeper Alayna Wageman (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) made four saves in the winning effort for New Paltz, while Kean's junior goalkeeper Katie DiCarlo turned aside eight shots in the defeat.