Box Score New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team finished off a dominating weekend on its home turf with its second-consecutive shut out Saturday, defeating Manhattanville College, 3-0.
 
"To walk away with all wins on our home turf is just an incredible feeling," said Hawks freshman defender Kristin Lasker. "We're trying to give the program its best reputation. I think we're really working together and doing everything we can in practice to [have] really strong games on our home field."
 
SUNY New Paltz (3-3) maintained possession for most of the first half and generated opportunities with runs down the sideline. Both their first half goals came on the right side of the field with seniors Danielle Grossi and Gabriela Cabello adding on to their career-highs for the season.
 
After earning a corner, Cabello played the ball short to Grossi who took a touch and played a dangerous lofted ball to the back post. Nicole Sheintul got a head on the cross and knocked it home to give the Hawks the goal advantage about 15 minutes into the game.
 
Shortly after, Cabello ran on to a well-played through-ball by Kelsey Burns. Cabello took a touch around her defender and sent an arcing cross toward the net, which sailed over the head of Valiants goalkeeper Gabriella Beltrami (six saves) and into the net.
 
Rachael Purtell then added on to SUNY New Paltz's lead five minutes into the second half. The junior hustled to a ball played through the middle, beating the Beltrami to the 50-50 ball. Beltrami got a touch on the shot, but it wasn't enough to prevent the goal as it trickled just over the goal line before Manhattanville defenders could clear.
 
"We need to be a little more disciplined in our system," said Hawks coach Mike Eckberg. "We need to be more disciplined in our attack and we need to be more sophisticated in our attack. I felt like at times we were a little bit too one-dimensional, but certainly capitalized on a few mistakes. I think defensively the effort was relatively sound."
 
The Hawks limited the Valiants (1-3-1) to just one shot in the final 45 minutes, conceding just four shots on target the entire game and not giving up a single corner kick. Katelyn Cordero backed up her defense with a strong day in net, finishing with four saves.
 
"We take a lot of pride in keeping our shutouts," Cordero said. "We didn't have a lot of them last year, so it means a lot, especially on our home turf."
 
"I don't think we brought out best game today at all," said Manhattanville coach Graham Kennett. "I think we looked very tired for some reason. Really not picking up, really not closing down well. I don't think we organized well. it was a sign of mental tiredness for some reason. I have to go back and take a look of what we've been doing."
 
 
SUNY New Paltz is on the road Tuesday, taking on Vassar College for a 4 p.m. game, before it starts SUNYAC action Friday and Saturday against SUNY Oswego and SUNY Cortland, respectively.
 
"We talk about always getting to the next level and obviously as we prepare for this upcoming week it is going to be really important that we strive for the next level as we look ahead to Vassar," Eckberg added.
 
 
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