NEW PALTZ, NY — With 22 minutes remaining in the State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer game vs. Skidmore Saturday, Hawks midfielder Alex Wild controlled the ball just outside of the 18-yard box. With one touch, she spun to her right to free herself from the Thoroughbred defender and as she squared her shoulders, Wild shot a net-seeking missile off her left foot. 
 
Had the shot connected with nylon, the Hawks would have held a one-goal advantage. Instead the ball slammed into the crossbar keeping the score even at two goals apiece. Despite numerous other late chances in regulation and overtime, the game finished in a 2-2 tie. The draw put SUNY New Paltz at a record of 1-2-1 and Skidmore at 2-0-1.
 
"At the time we were tied 2-2, so we really needed that," Wild said of her near-go-ahead goal. "But it definitely brought more energy, and it was exciting to get that close."
 
The crossbar didn't keep Wild off the scoreboard all day, however. Earlier in the game (28th minute), Wild received a ball from Sky Pedroza just outside of the box before firing a shot that inched past the fingers of the diving Skidmore keeper Ava Keller and into the back of the net. The goal was Wild's second of the season.
 
The Thoroughbreds answered right back seven minutes later when Carly Craft scored off a beautiful pass from Yasmine Boukari for her third goal in 2019. 
 
After a late shot attempt that came up empty by Hawks forward Ally Donovan, SUNY New Paltz and Skidmore entered halftime locked up at one goal apiece. 
 
The Hawks struck first in the second half when midfielder Katie Buquicchio received a cross with no one in front of her except the keeper. Without settling the ball, she fired it into the net to provide SUNY New Paltz with a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute.
 
"We did a really good job of going through the outsides, crossing it in, and getting a finish on it," Buquicchio said of her goal. "It felt good to execute what we've been doing in practice." 
 Skidmore responded right away, again. Just more than three minutes later, Thoroughbred forward Isabella Nevin buried her first goal of 2019, an unassisted equalizer that put pressure on the Hawks to score again. 
 
And score again they almost did, putting eight shots on target in the second half and overtime. With numerous late chances, including Wild's crossbar-striking shot, the Hawks felt a game-winner was inevitable.
 
"Everyone was so pumped up at the end, and we had a whole bunch of chances that were really close," Buquicchio said. "We did a really nice job of getting the ball forward and trying to finish late in the game."
 
Perhaps the best opportunity came five minutes into the first overtime period when Donovan dumped off a pass to Hawks forward Sienna Diaz-Colon who was sprinting down the right flank. Diaz-Colon delivered a beautiful cross to a soaring Buquicchio who headed the ball just over the crossbar.  
 
Despite a chance off a corner kick with four minutes remaining in the final overtime period, the Hawks came up empty, and the game ended in a draw. 
 
"We were very cohesive in our attack today," Hawks coach Mike Eckberg said. "It was something we have been really emphasizing so it was exciting to see that take shape today."
 
SUNY New Paltz finished the game with 11 of 14 shots on target, and keeper Megan Tornatore picked up five saves. The Hawks will look for their second win of 2019 Saturday when they travel to Manahattanville.

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