NEW PALTZ, NY — Before Saturday, the State University of New York New Paltz women's soccer team had played in three overtime games. Tying Skidmore and Fredonia, while losing to Buffalo State, the Hawks have not had a ton of success in the extra period. But on Saturday, the previous results didn't matter. All that mattered was SUNY New Paltz had the experience of playing in overtime under its belt.

The Hawks defeated Oswego State 1-0 in overtime to improve to 4-7-2 overall and 1-3-1 in the SUNYAC. And how fitting that on senior day, senior Alex Wild was the one who scored the game winner.

"To have that game-winning goal on senior day was really really exciting," Wild said. "We've worked so hard the past few games and we didn't get the results we wanted." 

Wild's goal came in the 95th minute when an Oswego defender collided with her goalkeeper. The collision knocked the ball out of the keeper's grasp, and the ball took a SUNY New Paltz bounce toward Oswego's goal line.
 

Wild, who was slightly trailing the play, got around the fallen Lakers, beat another defender to the ball and guided the ball over into the net as she fell down. Victory. 

"It's a moment that she'll be able to take with her forever," Hawks Coach Mike Eckberg said. "She deserves it. She's such a hard worker."

Not to be overlooked by Wild's game-winning goal, was the play of SUNY New Paltz keeper Megan Tornatore. Eckberg thought Tornatore played her best game of the season Friday against Cortland despite a 4-0 loss. However, her performance on Saturday may have topped it.

The junior pitched a shutout, making eight saves—many of which were diving efforts on shots that certainly would have found the back of the net if not for Tornatore. 

"We held our own defensively," Tornatore said. "There were a couple balls that slipped through, but we got them out either with clearances or saves."

The Hawks will take their win on the road to Geneseo next Friday, and they hope to carry their energy and momentum into that match.

"Today's win is really going to help us in our next four games which are all away," Tornatore said. "It's going to be a challenge, but I think this win is going to give us a lot of momentum."