Box Score Galloway, NJ – Almost a year to date, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team suffered a brutal 3-0 loss at home to Stockton University and on Saturday the Hawks returned the favor.

In a tight 70-minute contest, SUNY New Paltz (3-1) and the Ospreys (3-1) totaled 17 shots on target and combined for 21 penalty corners in the game, but it all came down to a missed penalty stroke in the final seconds, followed by a last-second save by Ryan Dowling that solidified a low-scoring, 2-1, victory for the Hawks.

"Today we made the right adjustments and were able to come through with the win," said SUNY New Paltz coach Shanna Szablinski. "It was not an easy win and they fought hard all the way until the last second."

Britney Stein got Stockton on the board within the first nine minutes of the match for the initial lead, but the Hawks answered in the 32^nd minute to knot up the score. Jessica Ascencao scored her fifth of the year and third off a penalty corner with Samantha Ackerman picking up the assist on the play.

SUNY New Paltz then took the lead with Carly Croteau scoring her team-leading sixth goal of the season after knocking in a loose ball off a defensive save for the go-ahead score.

"It took us a bit to settle and make connections with our passing," Szablinski said. "In the second half we focused on opening up the field and making good decisions on and off the ball and this made a significant change in our play."

The Ospreys pulled their goalie in the last four minutes and earned a penalty stroke with the extra-man advantage with just 29 seconds left in the game. Victoria Caiazzo stepped up and sent her attempt wide of goal, but Stockton kept up the pressure and got off two more shots before time expired. Dowling was there to make the save for the Hawks and the second attempt went wide to solidify the victory for SUNY New Paltz.

The Hawks held the advantage on shots (16-11) and corners (12-9) in the game. Ascencao led the team with four shots, followed by Croteau and Serena Capsello with three apiece. Dowling got her first career start for SUNY New Paltz, playing all 70 minutes and making seven stops in the win.

SUNY New Paltz hopes to continue its strong play Wednesday when it travels to Troy, NY to take on RPI for a 5 p.m. game. 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.