Box Score Oneonta, NY - The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team lost a heartbreaking game to Utica College in overtime by a score of 3-2 on a rainy Sunday afternoon. The Hawks suffered their first loss of the season, while the Pioneers improve to 2-0. The last time Utica was victorious over SUNY New Paltz was back on Nov. 1, 2005.

"We started off slow during our first half and let in a quick goal," Hawks coach Shanna Szablinski said. "It took us some time to organize our defense and control Utica's speed. Megan Gangewere held strong in the cage and came up with some huge saves keeping us alive in regulation, but unfortunately we couldn't capitalize on our opportunities in overtime and fell short in the end."

Less than three minutes into the game, junior Rylee Meelan gave Utica an early 1-0 lead with an unassisted goal.

Senior Justine O'Reilly tied it up at the 5:12 mark with her first goal of the season off an assist from senior Hayley Kim. The Pioneers regained the lead when Meelan scored her second goal of the game at the 25^th minute, and the 2-1 score stood at halftime.

Freshman Carly Croteau knotted the game at two with the first goal of her collegiate career, beating Utica's senior goalkeeper Samantha Whitehouse in a 1-on-1 at the 45:16 mark. Neither team scored again in regulation and SUNY New Paltz played its first overtime game since last season against Middlebury College.

Gangewere made multiple clutch saves, but senior Melissa Koch scored just more than 10 minutes into overtime to give Utica the 3-2 victory.

The Pioneers out-shot the Hawks 30-16 and held a 16-8 advantage in corners.

Kim notched seven shots on the day, while O'Reilly recorded five. Croteau, junior Serena Capsello and sophomores Kaitlyn Gunter and Sophia Urrutia each registered one shot.

Gangewere made 16 saves in the cage, including five stops in overtime.

SUNY New Paltz next hosts its home-opener against No. 12 Montclair State on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 4:30 p.m. on the North Turf Field.

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