Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – In a game that saw the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team regain momentum in the second half, the Hawks ran out of time and ultimately sustained a 3-2 setback at the hands of the University of Rochester on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at the Old Turf Field.

Rochester scored twice in the first 10 minutes of play, and after a first half and early portions of the second half that saw Rochester gain numerous scoring chances, the Yellowjackets appeared to have the game in hand. New Paltz, however, pulled within one in the 57th minute, but Rochester extended the advantage to two with just 4:20 left in the contest. New Paltz scored with 1:57 left but was unable to net the equalizer in the waning moments of the tilt.

New Paltz drops to 4-3 overall with the loss and opens State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play on Friday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. against SUNY Oswego. Rochester rises to 7-0 overall and entertains The College at Brockport on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m.

The Yellowjackets wasted no time getting on the board, as sophomore forward Callie Fisher scored in the seventh minute off a pass from sophomore midfielder Sayaka Abe from the left side of the circle, beating the goalkeeper to her left. Just 1:01 later, senior forward Gina Cunningham tipped in a feed from senior midfielder Megan Keil, and Rochester claimed a 2-0 advantage.

While New Paltz did put four shots on goal and unleashed seven shots total in the first period, the Hawks entered halftime trailing by two.

Rochester had numerous scoring opportunities in the early goings of the second half, intercepting New Paltz passes in the Yellowjackets' attacking third and testing junior goalkeeper Alayna Wageman (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) in transition. The Hawks were able to keep Rochester from cashing in on those chances, and they kept themselves in the game to leave the window open for a comeback bid.

After shots by junior forward/midfielder Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) and sophomore forward Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) that were saved by junior goalkeeper Tara Lamberti, sophomore forward Erin Landy (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) flipped a backhanded ball into the goal in traffic in front of the cage at 56:25 to put the Hawks on the board.

Rochester deflated New Paltz's hopes slightly in the 66th minute, as Fisher scored her second goal of the game off a rebound to put the Yellowjackets back out in front by two. The Hawks executed a penalty corner perfectly with just under two minutes remaining in the contest, as senior midfielder Deirdre O'Neill (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) redirected a feed from McKeveny into the goal. Neither team generated any scoring opportunities after that, and Rochester held on for the 3-2 non-conference win.

Rochester held a slight 16-15 margin in shots, while New Paltz outgained the Yellowjackets, 12-7, in penalty corners. 

Wageman turned aside seven shots in the loss, while Lamberti made seven stops in the victory.