Box Score

UNION, N.J. – Controlling both pace and tempo for the entire game, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's lacrosse team clamped down on a high-scoring Kean University team, and won its third straight game with a convincing 12-8 victory over the Cougars under rainy and chilly conditions at Alumni Field on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Kean, which came into the contest averaging 16 goals a game, managed only half that amount. The Cougars found the New Paltz defense difficult to score upon. The swarming Hawks defense dictated tempo, forcing Kean away from its normal fast-paced style and limited the Cougars to very few clean looks. In its previous five games, Kean scored no less than five goals at halftime – and double figures twice – but had just two on Wednesday afternoon.
 
With the victory, New Paltz improves to 3-0, its best start since the 2011 team began the season 5-0. Kean, which lost its second straight game, drops to 4-2. The Hawks will next travel to Montclair State University on Tuesday, March 25 for a 7 p.m. game. Kean next travels to Widener University for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday.
 
"We overcame a lot adversity with the weather conditions," said head coach Liz Student. "It was a total team effort and our defense really rose to the challenge of defending a high-scoring Kean offense."
 
New Paltz scored first, 2:30 into the contest when senior attack Mariam Ismail (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) bounced her goal into the right corner and past Kean sophomore goalie Daniella Wagenti. It set the stage for senior attack Talia Tesler (Rochester, NY/Brighton) and junior midfielder Carissa Citro (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) to take over the first half, each scoring two goals to help the Hawks close out the first half leading 5-2. Citro's goal that put New Paltz up 3-1 was orchestrated by a perfect feed from junior midfielder Lianne Valdivia (Kingston, NY/Kingston), who spotted a cutting Citro in the crease and threaded a perfect pass from behind the goal. Tesler ended the half with a game-changing goal, scored shoulder-high on Wagenti's left side with six seconds until intermission.
 
Citro was on-the-move at the 21 minute mark of the second half, weaving through four defenders to put New Paltz ahead 8-4. Tesler scored New Paltz's next two goals, the second off a Citro feed that saw the swift midfielder sprint nearly the entire field to find an open Tesler in transition. A free position goal by Citro with 9:46 remaining pushed New Paltz ahead 11-5.
 
Kean made a late-game push to get within 11-7 with 7:54 remaining on a goal by senior midfielder Carly Seidel, but time and momentum still belonged to the Hawks. New Paltz junior goalie Jackie Ulanoff (Northport, NY/Northport) had a solid game, making eight saves.
 
Citro had five goals, which ties her career high, set against SUNY Potsdam in the 2012 season. She added two assists and a team-high five ground balls. Tesler had four goals for the second straight game.
 
Seven different players scored for Kean, led by two goals from Seidel. In goal, Wagenti made 11 saves.