Box Score

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Junior midfielder Nicole Gottschalk (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) scored with just 3.9 seconds left in regulation to lift the State University of New York at New Paltz women's lacrosse team to an 8-7 non-conference win over Farmingdale State College on Tuesday evening at Rams Field.
 
Following a Farmingdale State goal by junior midfielder Kristen Keller with 2:40 left in regulation, Keller gained the draw for the Rams to put them in the driver's seat to dictate the final possession. Farmingdale State, however, turned the ball over with 2:15 to play, and after a successful clear attempt and a free-position opportunity, New Paltz called timeout.
 
The Hawks wound the clock down all the way to 3.9 seconds, as Gottschalk ripped an unassisted goal into the back of the net to give New Paltz the 8-7 lead. While Farmingdale State won the ensuing draw, the Rams were unable to get down to their attacking end of the field in time to score the equalizer, giving New Paltz the road victory.
 
It marks the Hawks' first win over Farmingdale State, a rival that New Paltz has shared numerous close results with over the years, since prevailing, 14-7, over the Rams back on March 12, 2011.
 
New Paltz rises to 3-5 overall with the win and opens up State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play on Saturday, April 2, at 12 p.m. at SUNY Geneseo. Farmingdale State drops to 1-6 with the loss and next visits Montclair State University on Thursday, March 31, at 7 p.m.
 
Farmingdale State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead minutes into the contest, but sophomore attacker Kelsey Aeberli (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley), freshman midfielder Rachael Purtell (Minetto, N.Y./Oswego), junior attacker Melissa Wagner (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) and Gottschalk all scored to give the Hawks a 4-2 advantage midway through the first half. The Rams countered with two unanswered goals to close the half, tying the score at 4-all heading into the intermission.

The Rams struck first in the second half, scoring 1:03 into the period to take the lead. Aeberli, sophomore attacker Caitlyn Morris (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) and Wagner each contributed a goal in a 3-0 Hawk spurt that gave the visitors a 7-5 lead, but the Rams netted two markers with under 10 minutes left to knot the tally once again. That set the stage for Gottschalk's heroics, and New Paltz claimed the win to bring momentum into conference play this weekend.
 
Farmingdale State finished with a 29-24 margin in shots, and the Rams also controlled 12 draws to the Hawks' five. New Paltz did, however, hold the upper hand in ground balls (13-11), and the Hawks went 9-for-11 on clear attempts in the second half (13-for-20 total).
 
Gottschalk, Aeberli and Wagner ignited the New Paltz offense with two goals apiece, while Purtell and Morris also scored. Aeberli also dished out two assists, while Morris and sophomore attacker Allie Imperati (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) doled out one helper apiece. Morris kept the team afloat when it came to gaining possession of the ball, as she scooped up six ground balls.
 
For Farmingdale State, junior midfielder Brittany Rosino and Keller tallied two goals each, while senior midfielder Kristen Ranaldo and Rosino controlled three draws apiece.
 
Junior goalkeeper Colleen Roemer (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane) turned aside 12 shots in the win for the Hawks, while junior goalkeeper Krista Spagnoletta made 10 saves in the loss for the Rams.