Box Score New Paltz, NY – As timed slowly ticked off the game clock nearing zero, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team tightly held on to a one-goal advantage, but SUNY Geneseo earned one last corner to give themselves a chance to send the game into overtime. The Knights had scored twice on corners earlier in the game, but Hawks freshman goalie Ryan Dowling wasn't about to let the same play get past her again. Dowling came out, got her glove up on the lifted shot and cleared the ball away to solidify a 3-2 victory Wednesday for SUNY New Paltz, pushing her team to its sixth State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship in seven years.

"To make a save like that with no time left was crazy, because that was one of their set plays that I've known and they had scored on it previously in the game," Dowling explained. "So knowing that they were going to do it was a little nerve wracking because I had already messed up once, but once I saw it was just a lifted shot I just ran right out and cleared it out. It was a great feeling."

Dowling put up a stand-out performance, finishing with 16 saves in the outing. SUNY Geneseo found more chances on their attacking end, but SUNY New Paltz was more efficient with its opportunities on offense to compliment Dowling and the defensive effort.

"I just think they stayed focused throughout the entire game," said Hawks coach Shanna Szablinski. "It's hard to do when you're up, down, up and you can get easily distracted. I think one of the things we talked about moving forward is that we can control the way we react. I think they did a really great job of staying focused at what they needed to do and not what just happened and moving forward to the next play. They did a really great job of that. With them, it is just about staying composed and staying focused on what they need to do in order to be successful."

Julia Kim gave the Knights the opening lead midway through the first half, scoring off a corner by Lydia Volpe with Jordan Penkitis picking up the assist on the play.

SUNY New Paltz answered less than five minutes later. Morgan Gunter intercepted a pass from inside the circle and put a shot on SUNY Geneseo goalie Natalie Chojnacki, who made the stop. Carly Croteau hustled in for a put-back attempt, but again Chojnacki came up with the save. Croteau kept with the play, found her own rebound and lifted her shot in the back of the cage to tie up the score.

The Hawks then added another before halftime, earning a corner with three minutes left before the break. Samantha Ackerman took the corner for SUNY New Paltz, getting the ball to Ascencao who played it to Shannon Bernhardt. Bernhardt took a touch then laid it off to Ascencao again who ripped a shot from the top of the circle. Ackerman, waiting patiently in front of the left post tracked the shot and got a tip on the attempt, directing the ball into the goal for the score.

"I think that urgency, the effort, it was what really pushed us forward today," Szablinski said. "One of the things we said is that we need to get the ball in the circle and we need to do whatever it takes. Not only whatever it takes, but we have to be aggressive and attack rebounds, and they did a good job with that each and every one of them, so that was good."

The Knights continued to press offensively and earned 15 shots and eight corners in the second half alone. They capitalized another of their corners with about 14 minutes remaining in regulation. Volpe again played a ball out and found Penkitis who pushed a pass over to Kim. Kim then fired a shot into the cage to knot up the score at two.

But, SUNY New Paltz kept fighting and didn't get discouraged with another stalemate, eventually re-taking the lead. Croteau worked hard in the offensive third, battling with SUNY Geneseo defenders to keep the ball on the Hawks' offensive end. She fought to win the ball and poke a pass in front of the cage where Berhnardt waited to knock in the go-ahead score.

"My reaction when Shannon's goal went in was just crazy," Dowling said. "I was so hyped up, because knowing that you're up 3-2 is so much better than knowing you're tied, because it gives you a little cushion and lets you know your teammates are taking care of what they have to do on attack and it motivates you to do what you need to do on defense." 

From there, the Hawks tenaciously defended for the final minutes to keep the one goal advantage. The Knights earned three corners in the last four-minute stretch, but SUNY New Paltz hung on. Kim had one final attempt at goal, but Dowling read the play and made a glove save on the shot to cement the victory.

"That could really take someone out of their game and I think Ryan really played with confidence," Szablinski said. "She brushed it off and focused on obviously the next play, and didn't let that take her out of her game because she had a tremendous game. She came up with some big, big saves."

SUNY Geneseo held the advantage in shots (25-13), shots on goal (19-11) and corners (13-7), but couldn't get past SUNY New Paltz's stout defense. Along with 16 saves for Dowling, freshman Kayla Ahern also came up with a defensive save midway through the second half off a Volpe corner.

With the win, the top-seeded Hawks will host No. 3 seeded SUNY Cortland, which defeated No. 2 seed SUNY Oneonta in the other semifinal matchup Wednesday. SUNY New Paltz is looking forward to the re-match against the Red Dragons, who they had defeated in the regular season, but last year's SUNYAC finals loss still lingers and are focused on bringing home another title.

"It's just day by day and we focus on the things we need to get better," Szablinski said. "We are not complacent and they understand that everybody is giving their best at this point in time. We're going to see whoever we're playing's best and it is important that we still focus on the little things from this game tomorrow and Friday, so we are ready and prepared to go on Saturday." 

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