Box Score

CORTLAND, N.Y. – Despite finishing with a 15-5 advantage in shots, including 13 on goal, the No. 17 State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team suffered its first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) loss of the season to SUNY Cortland on Saturday, falling by a 1-0 score at Stadium White.
 
New Paltz dominated possession most of the game, but strong play from Cortland's freshman goalkeeper Kailynne Reinoehl and the Red Dragon backs ultimately made the difference with regard to the final score. The Hawks also finished with a 12-5 edge in penalty corners.
 
New Paltz drops to 7-2 overall (1-1 SUNYAC) with the loss and next hosts The College at Brockport on Friday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m. Cortland rises to 5-2 overall (2-0 SUNYAC) with the victory and entertains Nazareth College next on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m.
 
Though the Hawks unleashed shot after shot in the first half toward Reinoehl, it was the Red Dragons who got on the board first, as sophomore midfielder/back Megan O'Brien scored off a pass from senior forward Brittany Murphy in the 23rd minute. Even though New Paltz put two more shots on goal and earned three more penalty corners down the stretch in the first half, Cortland took a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
 
New Paltz continued to pressure the Red Dragons in the second half, and after several close calls, Cortland called timeout with just less than 20 minutes remaining in regulation. From that point forward, the Hawks took just two more shots, and the Red Dragons eked out the 1-0 victory.
 
Senior midfielder Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) and senior back Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) helped key the Hawk attack, taking five and four shots, respectively. Eight of their combined nine shots were put on target.
 
Senior goalkeeper Alayna Wageman (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) stopped three shots in the loss, while Reinoehl made nine stops in the win for Cortland. The Red Dragons received defensive saves from senior midfielder/back Meghan Coope (2), sophomore back Meg Redmond (1) and senior midfielder/back Sara O'Brien (1).