SUNY New Paltz Field Hockey Earns 3-2 Win On The Road Over RPI

9/13/2018 2:48:00 AM | By: Athletic Communications

Box Score TROY, NY — Freshman Jessica Ascencao had a goal and an assist and Morgan Gunter scored the tie-breaking goal nine minutes into the second half as the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 3-2, Wednesday at Harkness Field.

"We fought hard and our effort was consistent throughout the game," said Hawks coach Shanna Szablinski. "Ryan [Dowling], our goalkeeper, came up with some key saves to keep us in the lead throughout the game."

SUNY New Paltz (4-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead, with Ascencao having a hand in both. On the first, which came just 1 minute, 22 seconds into the contest, she carried the ball into the circle and sent a hard pass to the front of the cage, where it was deflected past the goalkeeper by senior Serena Capsello. SUNY New Paltz doubled its lead when Ascencao collected a pass from Samantha Ackerman off a penalty corner and stepped into a shot from the top of the circle that found the back of the cage. The goal was her team-leading seventh of the season with Ackerman picking up her fourth assist.

The Engineers (0-5) battled back to even things early in the second half. They pulled to within one goal with 2:05 remaining in the first half when senior Jena Dolinar swept in a loose ball following sustained offensive pressure by RP. Dolinar finished the sequence when the ball kicked to her on the left side of the goal and she tallied. Mikaela DiBello tied things up just 1:40 into the second frame when a Katina Shiomos stretch pass hit her in stride, sending her into the offensive zone with a defender and the goalkeeper to beat. DiBello gained the circle, turned, shot and scored her team-leading third goal of the season.

Gunter put the Hawks back in front when she brought the ball down the right side and sent a shot into the far side of the cage with 44:18 to play. RPI continued it pressure the rest of the game, but the Hawks held them off.

SUNY New Paltz had the edge in both shots on goal (22-14) and penalty corners (16-9). Both Dowling and RPI's Rachel Kaufman made nine saves. They both had four stops in the first half and five in the second.

SUNY New Paltz is back in action Saturday, hosting St. John Fisher for a 1 p.m. game on the North Turf Field. To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.

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