Box Score

KINGS POINT, N.Y. – Just four games into the 2017 season, the women's lacrosse team has already matched its win total from last year with Saturday's 14-5 non-conference win at United States Merchant Marine Academy.

With the victory, New Paltz sits at 3-1 overall and will return home for a three-game homestand, hosting Cazenovia (March 28), Farmingdale State (March 30) and SUNY Cortland (April 1). USMMA drops to 2-1 overall.

Five players finished with two or more goals as senior Melissa Wagner (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) led the way with three goals and three assists.

Junior Caitlyn Morris (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) enjoyed three scores and two helpers while senior Nicole Gottschalk (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) netted three goals and one assist.

Sophomore Taylor Russell (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) scored twice and provided an assist while freshman Emily Puciloski (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) scored two goals.

Defensively, sophomore goalkeeper Kendra Dansereau (Chesapeake, Va./Cape Henry Collegiate) made two saves on seven total shots. The Hawks caused 10 turnovers against USMMA and forced 29 overall miscues.

Freshman Alicia Kennedy (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) picked up a game-high five ground balls on the afternoon.

Overall, New Paltz held the edge in ground balls (30 to 13) and shots (28 to 16). The Hawks claimed a 7-2 lead at intermission and netted seven more goals in the second stanza to cruise to the win.