Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Playing their first contest and home opener on the recently installed New Turf Field, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team defeated visiting Hunter College 4-1 in a rainy Saturday afternoon non-conference match.
 
The Hawks (2-2) next host Bard College on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 4:30 p.m. at Alumni Field while Hunter (0-6) will look for its first win of the year against New York University on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
 
Junior forward Jason Gonzalez (Woodside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) notched the first goal of the match in only the 11^th minute of action as New Paltz would outshoot Hunter 26-4 on the day.
 
Gonzalez blasted his shot into the right corner off the post after dribbling through the box to hand New Paltz the early lead. In the 25^th minute, freshman midfielder Jon Pugach (Lattingtown, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) found the back of the net thanks to assists from sophomore forward Tucker Stern (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) and sophomore defender Brendan Egan (East Northport, N.Y./Northport). Egan crossed the ball from the left side and Stern gave Pugach a nice flick-on as the Hawks claimed a 2-0 edge.
 
Before halftime, Hunter would ruin the shutout with a goal from Brandon Fiscina in the 31^st minute to cut into the lead 2-1. But New Paltz would tack on a pair of goals in the second stanza to run away with the victory.
 
Stern buried in his first goal of the year from an assist across the box from Pugach in the 67^th minute. Later in the 73^rd minute, freshman Gino Scardino (West Hempstead, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) tacked in a goal off assists from Pugach and Gonzalez, to extend the home lead to 4-1.
 
Senior defender Brian Spina (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) led the Hawks with four shots. Scardino, Gonzalez, Stern and freshman midfielder Nick Comiskey (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) all fired off three shots apiece.
 
Senior goalkeeper Steven Domino (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) earned his first win of the fall, making two saves during the match.