Box Score Cortland, NY — It was a dominant opening 10 minutes for the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team Saturday, and it looked as though the No. 3 seeded Hawks (7-12) were going to pull off another upset against top-seeded SUNY Cortland (17-3) in the SUNYAC championship game.
 
However, the Hawks couldn't capitalize on their early chances and was unable to sustain the pressure, and ultimately their strong playoff run came to an end after falling to the Red Dragons, 5-0.
 
"It was huge," said SUNY New Paltz coach Shanna Szablinski of not taking advantage with an early goal. "We had multiple opportunities and then once they scored on us I felt like Cortland really got their momentum swinging their way and continued to take the ball to us throughout the remainder of the game, so it did affect us."
 
With Cortland holding on defensively, it started gaining momentum on its offensive end and answered with a goal off their first corner of the game.
 
Anna Branch found Hannah Burchell atop of the circle and ripped a shot that found the corner of the cage with just more than nine minutes into the game.
 
The Red Dragons then started creating a cushion in the last 10 minutes of the half, scoring three more to hold a comfortable 4-0 lead at the break.
 
Off a re-start Cortland played a ball high and off the bounce, the ball slipped past Hawks goalkeeper Megan Gangewere who came out to make the stop. Amanda Glaser found herself alone with an open goal and put away her team's second of the day.
 
Burchell registered a third goal in the 31^st minute off a corner, and about two minutes later Jess Gibaldi added on after the Hawks had difficulty clearing their zone.
 
SUNY New Paltz generated more offense in the second half and one of its closest chances came with 23 minutes left, as Justine O'Reilly's shot knocked off the post and out of play.
 
The Red Dragons, still holding a four-goal advantage, took a timeout with 14 minutes remaining and quickly tallied another right off the re-start after Glasser knocked in her second of the game.
 
"I think in the second half we were able to be more patient defensively," Szablinski said. "That was something that changed and we did better with, but we still didn't capitalize on opportunities and get the ball to our attacking end. We were struggling from our attacking 25 to our defensive 25."

The Hawks held the advantage in corners, 11-10, but the Red Dragons out-shot SUNY New Paltz, 25-6.
 
Gangewere withstood constant pressure and finished with 16 saves. Capsello led the Hawks with two shots, while Kaitlyn Gunter, O'Reilly, Hayley Kim and Carly Croteau each put a shot on goal.
 
Seniors Gangewere, O'Reilly and Kim were named to the All-Tournament Team. The trio ends their illustrious Hawks careers as two-time conference champions after making three SUNYAC final appearances during their four years.
 
"I think they are going to leave an impression of, 'you have to go out and get what you want and not wait for it to come to you.' That was their attitude, but they've also put the time in," Szablinski said. "From their freshmen year on you saw how much they've developed and grown personally and athletically too. They've just really matured as great leaders, strong players and they were the glue of the team this year. Obviously it is going to be really difficult to see them go, but I know they are going to be successful wherever they go."