Box Score New Paltz, NY — Since losing in the State University of New York Conference (SUNYAC) championship game last season, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team was anxiously awaiting a re-match with defending champs SUNY Cortland.
 
The Hawks circled Saturday's re-match on the calendar for more than a year and were just minutes away from pulling out the avenging victory. However, two ill-fated yellow cards in the last five minutes put their 2-1 advantage in jeopardy. SUNY New Paltz responded by digging down defensively, and despite playing with two less players for the remaining minutes, held on to the lead to clinch the regular season win, the program's first ever over the Red Dragons.
 
"I am elated. This is amazing. I think they came out and played really well. They controlled the pace of the game," said Hawks coach Shanna Szablinski. "I think what made a difference is just them being composed and when you're down two men with five minutes left in the game that could be a really scary situation, but they stayed composed, they kept possession, they didn't panic and it made a huge difference. They played like an experienced team that they've been together for years."
 
SUNY New Paltz owned most of the first half and earned two corners with three shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes, but it was SUNY Cortland that capitalized first. In the 11^th minute, Amanda Galser knocked in her shot from Jess Gibaldi to give her team the opening lead.
 
The goal didn't deter the Hawks play, however, as they continued to control the pace of play. They finished the first half with eight shots and six corners earned, and capitalized with a goal in the 29^th minute by Samantha Ackerman.
 
Off a corner, Ackerman played the ball to Serena Capsello on the near side of the circle. Capsello sent a pass across to Jessica Ascencao, who took an attempt on the cage. The ball deflected to the stick of Kaitlyn Gunter and then Carly Croteau, who pushed her pass to a wide-open Ackerman for the score.
 
"Carly was right on the right post and she almost had it," Ackerman recalled. "It was just about being poised and really moving hard into that ball. It takes a lot of discipline to be super low in field hockey and that was what helped me help my team to get on the board today."
 
The game entered halftime tied at one with the Red Dragons opening up the second period like the Hawks did the first, aggressive attacking the circle.
Backed by Ryan Dowling in goal, SUNY New Paltz held up strong and turned away four shots on five penalty corner opportunities for SUNY Cortland within the first three minutes of the second period.
 
"Ryan came up with some tremendous saves. I think what she did really well today is that she went with her gut," Szablinski said. "She made good decisions on the ball and when to be aggressive, and when to hold back and take the shot. Our defense was very precise about their marking and they stuck with what they needed to do and that showed with only a one-goal game."
 
Momentum started swinging back toward the Hawks, as they continued opening up the field and garnering possession in the Red Dragons' defensive half. The pressure finally broke through SUNY Cortland's defense with about 10 minutes left in the game.
 
Maggie Cottrell attacked the circle and earned a penalty corner for her team. Ackerman played the corner out to Ascencao who set up Sophia Urrutia for an attempt at goal. The ball landed in front of a couple Cortland defenders and goalkeeper Kailynne Reinoehl, but it was the stick of Ackerman who tipped a pass to Croteau in front of the cage for what ended as the game-winning goal.
 
Dowling and the defense did the rest of the work as time elapsed, hunkering down and keeping the Red Dragons away from the cage. Morgan Gunter was handed a yellow with 5 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the game and 22 seconds later Croteau was given a yellow as well, putting the Hawks down two nearly the rest of the way.
 
But, the young Hawks stepped up to the occasion and did not allow a single shot in the stretch to close out the win.
 
"It was definitely scary toward the end, but that is when true teams are really tested," Ackerman said. "I think we responded awesome today. I think that is what is going to help us win the SUNYAC championship. That was all about grit and digging deep today."
 
SUNY New Paltz held the advantage in shots (18-11) and corners (11-8) on the day, while Dowling finished with eight saves in the victory, making some big saves throughout the outing to keep the one-score game.
 
"Ryan did a fantastic job of directing her defense and getting on us, making sure we didn't give them any room to breathe, step up and shoot," Ackerman said. "It was just fantastic. A little scary, but we got the job done and that is something that we have to take with us moving forward."
 
The victory keeps the Hawks tied for first place in the conference alongside fellow undefeated, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Oneonta.

SUNY New Paltz is back in action Friday and Saturday when it hits the road to take on The College at Brockport and the Knights.
 
"I am just really proud of them. Today, as coaches, this is what we wanted to see and it happened, and they did a really great job. I am so pleased," Szablinksi added. "As far as motivation and then for belief that they are very capable of great things, this is what we needed to keep moving forward into SUNYAC play and prepare us for Friday, Saturday next week."

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