Box Score NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team scored early and held on, defeating non-conference Kean University, 2-0, in its regular-season home finale Tuesday afternoon at the North Turf Field.
The Hawks, who handed the Cougars their first shutout of the season, finished with a 17-12 margin in shots and an 18-10 edge in penalty corners. After controlling the tempo throughout most of the first half, New Paltz staved off several offensive chances by Kean in the latter stages of the contest to pull out the victory.
New Paltz rises to 13-4 overall with the win and next visits Vassar College on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. in its regular-season finale. Kean drops to 14-5 with the loss and visits The College of New Jersey next on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Freshman forward
Rachel McLaughlin (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia) put the Hawks on the board first in the fifth minute, redirecting a feed from senior back
Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) into the back of the cage. While New Paltz earned 13 penalty corners in the first half, the home team was unable to extend the lead any further in the first 35 minutes of play, as the two teams entered halftime with the Hawks up, 1-0.
Kean began to press the ball into its attacking third in the second half, but despite winning battles in the midfield, the Cougars were unable to net the equalizer. Junior forward
Erin Landy (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) added an insurance goal for New Paltz in the 66th minute off of a penalty corner, while senior goalkeeper
Alayna Wageman (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) made a crucial stop off a redirected shot from Kean's sophomore back Katie-Lynne Lussier in the 68th minute to preserve the shutout bid.
The Cougars received the bulk of their offensive chances from senior midfielder Marissa Robinson, who fired off a team-high five shots, all of which were on goal.
Wageman turned aside nine shots in the win for New Paltz, while senior goalkeeper Katie DiCarlo made six stops in the loss for Kean. Junior back
Colleen Roemer (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane) made a defensive save for New Paltz, while sophomore back Shauna LaMaina was credited with a defensive save for Kean.
