Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Looking to take down the No. 1 team in the North Atlantic Region, the field hockey team at the State University of New York at New Paltz fell just short against visiting Vassar, falling 3-2 on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at North Turf Field.

The Hawks conclude the regular season with a 9-8 overall record, going 5-1 in the SUNYAC and have earned the No. 2 seed in the upcoming SUNYAC Tournament. New Paltz will now prepare to host No. 3 seed Geneseo on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. in the SUNYAC Semifinals.

Vassar improves to 14-3 overall and earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Liberty League postseason, where the Brewers will host Skidmore in the first round.

New Paltz tallied the first two goals of the game as junior forward Justine O'Reilly (West Sayville, NY/Sayville) scored her sixth of the season off an assist from junior midfielder Hayley Kim (West Hurley, NY/Onteora) in the 22^nd minute to hand the Hawks a 1-0 edge.

Sophomore midfielder Samantha Ackerman (Nesconset, NY/Smithtown East) caged her first goal of the season off an assist from senior forward Erin Landy (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem Central) to give New Paltz a 2-0 cushion in the 31^st minute.

However, Vassar cut that lead in half right at halftime when Cristina Lopez scored off a penalty corner as New Paltz went into the intermission leading 2-1.

In the waning minutes of the first half, junior keeper Megan Gangewere (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) was assessed a two-minute green card penalty and by virtue of this, had to be removed for the contest.

The Hawks had to play without one field player but were able to replace Gangewere, however they did not have another goalie dressed so sophomore Rachel McLaughlin (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia), who normally plays forward, suited up and played between the pipes for 2:34, unfortunately surrendering the goal right before halftime.

Vassar went on to score two goals in the second half, notching scores in the 37^th and 41^st minutes. Despite several scoring chances for New Paltz down the stretch, the Hawks could not find the back of the net and succumbed to the visiting Brewers in this Hudson River rivalry contest.

For the match, the Brewers held a 19-11 shots advantage while the Hawks attempted more penalty corners, 13-8. Gangewere wrapped up the day with nine saves in the cage.

Offensively, sophomore forward Serena Capsello (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) led the attack with three shots off the bench while O'Reilly, Kim, Ackerman and senior forward Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East) all registered two shots each.

Prior to the game, the program paid tribute to its three senior members in Landy, McKeveny and back Colleen Roemer (Pound Ridge, NY/Fox Lane).