Box Score

UTICA, N.Y. – Senior midfielder Dani Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) became the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey program's all-time leader in goals scored, as she netted her 35th and 36th career markers in the Hawks' 4-2 win over non-conference St. Lawrence University on day one of the Utica Tournament Saturday at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.
 
Ackerman, who entered the day needing just one goal to equal the program standard, tied the record in the third minute, cashing in on a feed from her sister, freshman midfielder Samantha Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East). In the 51st minute, she scored once again, firing a shot into the upper right-hand corner of the cage to stand alone as the program's record holder. Danielle Conklin held the previous career goal record of 35, which she set from 2010-13.
 
The next career record in Ackerman's sights is the program's all-time points standard. Ackerman currently sits at 89 points, which is just six points shy of Conklin's record of 95.
 
New Paltz rises to 2-0 with the win and plays host Utica College tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. to round out action at the tournament. St. Lawrence drops to 1-1 with the loss and faces SUNY Oneonta tomorrow at 11 a.m.
 
New Paltz needed an offensive surge in the second half to overcome a 2-1 halftime deficit, relying on two goals from junior forward Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) and Ackerman in the final 18 minutes of action to cruise to the win.
 
Ackerman's goal in the third minute opened scoring, but St. Lawrence answered back just more than three minutes later with a marker from senior forward Samantha Haab. The Saints took the lead in the 28th minute, as sophomore midfielder/back Molly Wood buried the ball in the back of the cage off a rebound in a scramble. That 2-1 lead stood up as the halftime score, with New Paltz trailing despite a 20-4 edge in shots and a 15-2 margin in penalty corners at the intermission.
 
McKeveny redirected a ball sent from Ackerman into the goal in the 43rd minute to tie the score at 2-all, and the Hawks took the lead after Ackerman scored 8:42 later. McKeveny put the game on ice in the 61st minute with her second goal of the game.
 
New Paltz finished with a 32-7 edge in shots and a 28-3 cushion in penalty corners.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Gangewere (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) turned aside five shots in the win for New Paltz, while senior goalkeeper Kim Haab made 21 stops in the loss for St. Lawrence, with junior midfielder Carly Dziekan and sophomore back/midfielder Casey Ostler each posting a defensive save for the Saints.