Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - Junior forward Jason Gonzalez (Woodside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) registered a hat trick to lift the State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team over visiting SUNY Fredonia 4-1 in the season finale for both squads in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on
Saturday afternoon.

The victory was the first conference win for New Paltz as the Hawks wrapped up the 2014 campaign with a 5-11-2, 1-6-2 mark. As for the Blue Devils, Fredonia moves to 8-6-3, 2-5-2 and will miss out on the postseason.

New Paltz scored in the 13^th minute to claim an early 1-0 lead as Gonzalez chipped the ball from the right sideline to senior midfielder Alec Johnson (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) who buried in the goal.

In the 25^th minute, the Hawks added to the lead as Gonzalez headed the ball into the back of the net thanks to assists by Johnson and junior midfielder Joe Hughes (Westbury, N.Y./Carle Place) to give New Paltz a 2-0 advantage. With Johnson's three-point outing, he finishes his career with 23 points (eight goals, seven assists).


The match remained 2-0 in favor of New Paltz until the second half when Gonzalez broke away from Fredonia's defense about 30 yards out and notched his second marker of the day in the 65^th minute. Senior midfielder Dondre Irving (Elmont, N.Y./Valley Stream North) was credited with the assist on the play.

The Blue Devils ruined the clean sheet with a goal in the 74^th minute, scoring off a throw-in which bounced around until freshman forward Aaron Hayes found the back of the net for his second goal of the year to trim the New Paltz lead to 3-1.

But Gonzalez wrapped up his three-goal game in the waning seconds, finishing into an open net after freshman midfielder Khalil Scott Ludewig (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) beat the Fredonia keeper. Gonzalez finishes the year with a team-high 10 goals, tied for third in the SUNYAC.

The Hawks outshot Fredonia 25-20, holding an 11-6 shots-on-goal edge. Gonzalez and Johnson both finished with four shots apiece while senior defender Stephen Browne (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place) and freshman forward Gino Scardino (West Hempstead, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) both fired off three shots.

Senior goalkeeper Andres Montoya (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) earned the start and the victory, moving to 3-4 on the year. Senior Steven Domino (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) played the second half and was forced to make three saves.

Prior to kickoff, the Department of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation honored the Hawks' seven seniors: Montoya, Domino, Brian Spina (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central), Michael Levko (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville), Browne, Johnson and Irving for their service to the program.

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