New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz earned its fifth-straight win Wednesday on the North Turf Field, rolling to a 4-0 victory over a talented Stevens Institute of Technology team.

It was one of the most all-around complete performances for the Hawks (8-3 overall, 2-0 conference) who are continuing to improve with each game. They held firm defensively, not allowing too many dangerous opportunities and used their speed in transition to create ample chances on the offensive end. They held the advantage in possession as well and it showed on the stat sheet, as SUNY New Paltz out-shot the Ducks, 22-9, in the game, with four of Stevens' chances coming toward the end of the fourth quarter.

Hawks coach Shanna Szablinski was not only pleased about the win, but happy with the way her team executed in a pivotal non-conference matchup leading into a huge State University of New York Athletic Conference matchup against SUNY Geneseo Saturday.

"I think it is where we need to be," Szablinski said. "Today we were really adamant about just doing things together and moving in transition whether it was defense to attack or attack to defense in numbers and I think we did a great job in doing that. I think it kind of showed in the opportunities that we had in the attacking end, but also slowing down their attack who I feel is very strong, and that was something we really honed in on from the beginning of the game."
 

SUNY New Paltz held the ball on its offensive end for the majority of the first quarter, but finally capitalized with back-to-back goals in the second. On the first goal, Courtney Kruzikas played a lofted ball toward the goal, which Stevens' goalie Emily Franco got a touch for the initial save, but on the rebound Rachel Beam was there to find the ball in the air and swat it in the back of the net for the game's first goal.

Carly Croteau helped instigate the second goal five minutes later, winning the ball on a tackle at midfield with the Hawks quickly transitioning the other way. Shannon Bernhardt found herself just inside the circle, and similar to Kruzikas, lifted her shot toward the goal. This time, Natasia Plunkett was there to tap the ball in for the score. 

"Our transition was much better than it has been," Plunkett said. "We did a really good job knowing when to take line and when to cut to goal, so I think that really made a big difference in our play. We made a goal of [transitioning], and making runs and stuff before the game, so I think that made a big difference."

SUNY New Paltz held on to a two-goal advantage at the break and narrowly added on in the third quarter as well. The Hawks continued utilizing their speed up top and quickly transitioning to either Croteau or Plunkett who were too fast for any of the Ducks defenders. Their speed facilitated three corners in the third quarter alone, leading to five shots on frame. Franco came up with four saves in the period to keep the score halted at 2-0 heading into the fourth.

The Hawks found their third score just two minutes into the final 15 minutes, however. Bernhardt got the play started, lofted a long ball off a re-start into Stevens' defensive half, which resulted in another fast-break for Plunkett who ultimately earned her team a corner on the play. From there, Wagner played a pass in to Jessica Ascencao at the top of the circle, who took a touch and fired her shot past Franco for her team-leading eighth goal of the year.

The Ducks held possession in the Hawks' defensive zone late into the fourth and earned their best opportunity on net with about five minutes left. Brynn Forehlich lifted a shot headed for goal, but the Hawks' Mackenzie Mortimer made a fantastic stick save high to keep the shutout.
"Defense did a good job of applying multiple people on the ball," Szablinski said. "That is something that we work really hard on in training and it is starting to show in the games, so as coaches we are happy with the progression. We know we have to keep moving forward as time goes because it is only going to get harder."

Not long after, SUNY New Paltz netted the final insurance goal with less than two minutes to play. The highlight play started on the defensive end, as Morgan Gunter made a great turn on a re-start from Ascencao. Gunter carried the ball until she found Ahearn across the field, who quickly passed the ball ahead to Kruzikas. Kruzikas then got the ball up to Sophia Urrutia who found herself on a three on two near the circle. She swiftly found Croteau in front of the goal and Croteau touched a nifty pass to a wide-open Kaitlyn Gunter who buried the goal to put the final explanation point on an impressive day by the Hawks.

"I think that is one of the things that we do have is a lot of speed on the field," Szablinski said. "They did a good job of using the space and not attacking where the defense was already at. They opened it up that way and it made huge difference, so the movement and the change of attack worked really well to our advantage."

Mortimer finished with five saves on seven shots faced, while Franco totaled 14 saves for the Ducks. Croteau and Ascencao led SUNY New Paltz with five shots apiece, followed by Kruzikas and Bernhardt who each had three.

The Hawks are back in action Saturday in big matchup against SUNY Geneseo at 12 p.m.

"I think we played some of the best hockey we've played this season," Plunkett added. "This performance was a big deal. We are hyping ourselves up for Saturday and this is our fifth-straight win and I think we are really on a roll. We're making the changes we need to make."

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