ANNANDALE ON THE HUDSON, NY -– It all seemed so familiar — almost like deja vu. The State University of New York New Paltz women's soccer team was locked in a second-half tie with Bard on Wednesday night. Eleven days earlier, the Hawks were locked in a second-half tie with Skidmore. Despite having multiple late opportunities against the Thoroughbreds, SUNY New Paltz could not convert, and the game ended in a draw.
It appeared the same thing was happening against the Raptors. The Hawks threatened and came close on a number of occasions, but they just couldn't find the back of the net. Here we go again. But the deja vu ended when SUNY New Paltz forward
Ally Donovan broke into the box and got tackled from behind, drawing a penalty. Donovan, a freshman, confidently stepped up to take the penalty kick and fired a low missile into the right side of the goal to give the Hawks a one-goal advantage with seven minutes to play.
"I think a number of players were fully capable of stepping up," SUNY New Paltz coach
Mike Eckberg said of choosing Donovan to take the crucial shot. "We decided on Ally, as she took part in creating the opportunity."
The Hawks closed out the final minutes to earn their second victory of the season and their first road win of 2019. The 2-1 win over Bard advances SUNY New Paltz to a record of 2-4-1 and marks the first time the program has defeated Bard since 2012.
"The student athletes deserve all the credit tonight," Eckberg said. "I was very pleased with our attacking mentality. Everyone played a massive role, and I'm proud of the environment our bench created. It is the atmosphere we have stressed. It is a selfless role, and it was well-executed."
SUNY New Paltz started the scoring late in the first half when freshman midfielder
Katie Buquicchio found junior forward
Kaitlyn Connolly cutting towards the net. Connolly buried the shot for her first goal of the season, giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead they would carry into halftime.
The question became, "Can the Hawks hold on?" SUNY New Paltz held a pair of one-goal leads over Skidmore. The Thoroughbreds equalized both times. Despite holding off the Raptors for the first 20 minutes of the second half, they, too, equalized when Kehela Ventura snuck the ball past Hawks keeper
Megan Tornatore.
"I am disappointed to give up another set piece that is controllable, especially considering our backline's success at managing gaps in the run of play," Eckberg explained. "We made it more of a game than we needed it to be."
SUNY New Paltz played the final 25 minutes with energy and was rewarded because of it. The Hawks earned a number of opportunities, out-shooting Bard 5-2 in the final 15 minutes, but were just unable to capitalize. Perhaps the best chance came in the 81st minute when Donovan cut inwards, beating her defender and leaving her with an open shot from just outside the box. However, the shot tailed just wide keeping the game tied.
The score stayed tied for another two minutes and 50 seconds. Donovan got fouled in the box and converted the penalty kick for her fourth goal of the season and her first in two weeks, and the Raptors were unable to equalize again. Game over. Hawks win.
Eckberg said, "A match like tonight is affirmation that influences our belief. Belief creates confidence, which fuels our ability to execute in moments that matter."
SUNY New Paltz will play one more non-conference game at home on Saturday in a 1 p.m. showdown against Mount Saint Vincent before entering SUNYAC play on Sept. 28 against Oneonta.
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