New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team fell to No. 11 Kean University Tuesday on the North Turf Field.
The Hawks dropped to 8-5 overall, while the Cougars improved to 15-1 after winning their 15 th-straight game.
SUNY New Paltz had a prime opportunity to end Kean's winning streak Tuesday. The Hawks out-shot the Cougars, 17-12 with each team garnering 11 shots on goal. Late in the fourth, SUNY New Paltz had a three-man advantage following back-to-back-to-back cards given to the visitors, but could not capitalize. In turn, Kean ate up time before transitioning the other way for an insurance goal to seal the win.
Jamie Wagner got the day started with the game's opening score for the Hawks. The play stemmed off a corner earned by SUNY New Paltz's
Jessica Ascencao. Wagner played in the ball off the corner to Ascencao, who touched a pass to
Shannon Bernhardt. Bernhardt fired a shot on the cage and Wagner was there to put in the rebound for her seventh goal of the season.
The Cougars responded immediately however, scoring just two minutes later with about four minutes left in the first quarter. Kean's press was successful and earned the ball back in the Hawks' defensive zone, which led to a 2-v-1 situation and resulting in a goal by the Cougars' Peyton Mann.
Kean again took advantage of a SUNY New Paltz turnover in the second quarter. The Cougars' Ja'Carra Jackson picked off a flat pass made across midfield by
Julia Cummings, which led to a fast break the other way with Kean eventually earning a corner. Lia DiPiazza capitalized on the set piece, firing a shot from atop the circle for the score.
SUNY New Paltz trailed by a goal at the half even though both teams held possession fairly equally. However, the Cougars made sure to pounce on Hawks turnovers and quickly got the ball up field.
Late in the third quarter, SUNY New Paltz again were in prime position to add to the scoreboard. Bernhardt earned a corner for her team with about four minutes to play in the period. Wagner played the corner into Bernhardt who lifted a shot toward goal. The Hawks'
Carly Croteau narrowly knotted up the score, but Kean goalie Belly Reynoso came up with the foot save.
SUNY New Paltz buckled down off the re-start and won the ball back to earn another look on goal, this time Jackie Kanapas took a shot on Reynoso with her attempt going just wide. Again, the Hawks did well in keeping the ball in the Cougars' defensive zone and earned another corner. Bernhardt fired another shot after receiving a pass from Wagner off the corner, but her shot too went just wide.
The fourth quarter was littered with cards. Jackson was handed a five-minute yellow card with about 10 minutes left in the game giving the Hawks an extra man on the field. About three minutes later DiPiazza and Melissa Way were handed consecutive green and yellow cards, respectively, to give SUNY New Paltz a three-player advantage on the field. The Hawks totaled three corners and four shots in the man-up situation, and then added just a corner and shot wide by Ascencao after playing with three players up.
Bernhardt received a green card with five minutes left and with the other two cards playing out, the two teams were even once again and Kean took advantage. On a loose ball in the circle, Mortimer went to clear it, but instead put the ball back in the middle with Way finding possession, which resulted in a one-v-one situation. Way won the matchup and put away her 20th goal of the season to push the score to 3-1 in favor of the Cougars, which lasted until the final seconds ticked down.
Not only did SUNY New Paltz out-shoot Kean, but held the advantage on corners, 8-4. Bernhardt led the team with four shots, three of which were on target, while
Morgan Gunter and Ascencao followed with three apiece and combined for four shots on goal.
Mortimer finished with five saves on the day, while Reynoso ended with six for Kean.
The Hawks are back on the field Saturday when they re-enter SUNYAC play on the road against Morrisville State.
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on
Twitter at
@nphawks,
Instagram and
Facebook at
@newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our
Youtube channel,
New Paltz Hawks.
