Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team scored three goals in a 5:12 span in the latter stages of the first half to post a 3-1 victory over non-conference Vassar College in the regular-season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon at the Old Turf Field.

New Paltz dominated the entirety of the game, but Vassar capitalized on a penalty-corner opportunity with one second remaining in regulation to break up the Hawks' shutout bid. New Paltz finished with a 20-4 edge in shots and an 11-2 cushion in penalty corners.

The Hawks rise to 12-6 overall with the win and now turn their attention to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament. New Paltz owns the No. 3 seed and visits second-seeded SUNY Oneonta in the semifinal round on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. Vassar, which drops to 11-6 with the loss, owns the No. 3 seed in the Liberty League Tournament and visits second-seeded Skidmore College on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m.

Freshman forward Sam Eberle (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) put the Hawks on the board in the 25th minute, receiving a pass from junior forward/midfielder Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) and overcoming a deflection en route to the goal. Senior midfielder Deirdre O'Neill (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) made it a 2-0 game less than two minutes later, as she beat the Vassar goalkeeper with a hard shot from the right-hand side of the circle. Finally, in the 30th minute, sophomore forward Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) scored unassisted amongst traffic in the circle to give New Paltz a 3-0 edge heading into halftime.

Vassar eventually reaped a reward for its hard work in the final minute of play, as sophomore forward Hayley Beach scored off a pass from sophomore midfielder Emma Bracken following a penalty corner.

Junior goalkeeper Alayna Wageman (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) drew the start for the Hawks and earned the win without seeing a single shot, while freshman goalkeeper Megan Gangewere (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) made one save in 11:48 of action in the second half. Vassar's junior goalkeeper Amreen Bhasin finished with eight saves. New Paltz received a defensive save from junior back Kelsey Fleury (Augusta, N.J./High Point Regional), while Vassar's senior midfielder Enya Cunningham also was credited with a defensive save.