Box Score

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – After falling to a pair of nationally-ranked programs last week, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team returned to its winning ways on Tuesday at Frank Bailey Field, spoiling non-conference Union (N.Y.) College's home opener with a 4-1 win.

While the Hawks surrendered the first goal of the game and entered halftime tied at 1-all, they scored three markers in the second half to secure the victory. New Paltz finished with a 16-9 edge in shots and a 10-3 margin in penalty corners.

New Paltz rises to 4-2 and hosts the University of Rochester on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 12 p.m. at the Old Turf Field, marking the first of three straight home games. Union falls to 1-4 overall and visits Castleton State College on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.

Union excited the home crowd early, as sophomore forward Jessie Mulvey put the Dutchwomen on the board in the sixth minute. Sophomore midfielder Alexa Steriti fed Mulvey with a pass straight in from around 20 yards out, and Mulvey buried a shot into the left-hand side of the cage to give Union a 1-0 lead. Just 4:11 later, New Paltz answered, as senior midfielder Deirdre O'Neill (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) deposited a shot from point-blank range off a pass from junior back Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East).

While the teams entered halftime tied, the scoreboard was not indicative of New Paltz's domination up to that point. The Hawks outgained the Dutchwomen significantly in both shots (8-1) and penalty corners (7-0) in the first 35 minutes of play.

After scoreless play to begin the second half, freshman forward Justine O'Reilly (West Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) broke the deadlock with a goal off a Caruana feed in the 52nd minute. Just minutes later, O'Reilly had a shot blocked that sophomore forward Erin Landy (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) collected and placed into the back of the goal. Finally, in the 65th minute, sophomore forward Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) added more insurance, ripping a shot past the Union goalkeeper on her right side. Landy was credited with the assist on McKeveny's goal.

Landy finished with a goal and an assist, while Caruana tallied two assists on the contest.

Junior goalkeeper Alayna Wageman (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) stopped four shots in the winning effort for the Hawks, while Union's sophomore goalkeeper Laura Aptowitz suffered the loss and made eight saves.