Oneonta, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz played 85 tight minutes against No. 18 SUNY Oneonta Saturday.
 
Both teams went back-and-forth in opportunities, with each defense doing a good job of limiting the opposing offenses that have averaged nearly three goals a game heading into the matchup. However, with less than five minutes remaining, the Red Dragons capitalized on a rare miscue by the Hawks defense, as Dominick Dabrowski slipped a neat ball through to Witman Hernandez who placed his shot in the corner for the go-ahead score, which remained until time was up, handing SUNY New Paltz a 1-0 loss.
  "Overall I was really proud of the way the team played today and felt it was an even match that could have gone either way," said Hawks coach Kyle Clancy. "Tough to lose, but it will only push us more to learn and improve, and be ready for next weekend." 
 
Oneonta had the slight advantage on shots within the first 45 minutes, 6-5, but put nothing dangerous on SUNY New Paltz goalkeeper Marc DePasquale. The second half was much like the first with both teams' defenses highlighting the match with the Hawks adding six shots and the Red Dragons totaling five in the half.
 
Neither side could break through, until Dabrowski found some space wide and played a nifty ball through to Hernandez. DePasquale came off his line and cut off the angle on the one-v-one, but Hernandez finished the opportunity and perfectly slipped his shot past DePasquale and into the right corner of the goal.
 
"The goal was a tough one to give up after defending so well," Clancy said. "It started with some miscommunication on a pass out of the back and we didnt get back into shape quick enough, and their outside back did a great job finding Whitman quickly in behind. It was a great finish and something we will learn from so that we are better in transition next time."
 
DePasquale finished with two saves, while Francesco Scotti totaled three saves for SUNY New Paltz.
 
The Hawks return to conference play next weekend when they hit the road to take on Buffalo State and Fredonia State.  

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