Box Score

DANBURY, Conn. – Sophomore midfielder Hayley Kim's (West Hurley, N.Y./Onteora) goal just 4:32 into the contest wound up being the difference, as the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team opened up its 2015 season with a 1-0 victory over non-conference Western Connecticut State University on Tuesday evening at the Westside Athletic Complex.
 
Kim's goal came off a rebound, receiving the ball after the Colonials' goalkeeper denied a scoring chance. Kim deposited the ball to the lower right-hand side of the goal, giving the Hawks the 1-0 lead. That advantage stood up the rest of the contest despite numerous New Paltz scoring chances, but Western Connecticut's goalkeeper, junior Kristy Trotta, stood tall with 16 stops in net.
 
New Paltz rises to 1-0 with the win and will face a tough test over the weekend when it competes at the Utica Tournament. The Hawks square off with St. Lawrence University on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 1:30 p.m. before matching up with host Utica on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1:30 p.m. Western Connecticut falls to 0-1 with the loss and will look to break into the win column on Friday, Sept. 4, when it hosts Elms College at 7 p.m.
 
New Paltz dominated the stat sheet, finishing with a 23-10 edge in shots and a 14-4 cushion in penalty corners. Senior back Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) led the Hawks' charge with seven shots, four of which were on goal, while junior forward Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) fired off five shots, all of which were on frame. Senior midfielder Jenny Cappello keyed the Colonial attack, taking six shots, four of which came late in the second half as Western Connecticut tried to find the equalizer.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Gangewere (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) made the most of her first career start, posting a five-save shutout in a full 70 minutes of work.