Oswego, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team improved to 2-0 in SUNYAC play after going on the road and defeating Oswego State Saturday, 4-1.
 
The Hawks 7-2 overall, 2-0 SUNYAC) dominated throughout the game and scored two in the first quarter to build an early cushion. Sophomore forward Morgan Woolley got the offense started in the fifth minute on an unassisted score. Fellow sophomore Hannah Ackerman tacked on another a minute later, scoring off a penalty corner played in by Julia Cummings with Jessica Ascencao also picking up an assist on the play.
 
Woolley and Ackerman paced the offense all night for SUNY New Paltz as the two each added one more apiece in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
 
Woolley pushed the Hawks advantage to 3-0 just more than a minute into the second half. The play started with the visitors earning a quick penalty corner immediately following the halftime whistle with Cummings playing Ascencao. Ascencao's shot was saved by the Lakers' Erica Scheblein, but SUNY New Paltz kept the pressure and ultimately Woolley put away the second attempt on cage to add to the lead.   
Oswego answered with its only goal of the game midway through the quarter. Following back-to-back fouls by the Hawks, the Lakers capitalized with a score by Nancy Pagliaroli in the 37th minute with the score standing at 3-1 entering the fourth.
 
SUNY New Paltz again started hot off the whistle as Ackerman put a shot on Scheblein just seconds into the final period, but Scheblein was there on the stop. The Hawks earned a penalty corner a few minutes later with Ascencao getting another look at goal, but Scheblein again was there for the save with the rebound attempt by Shannon Bernhardt going wide of goal. Natasia Plunkett had a look at goal in the 52nd minute that was saved and SUNY New Paltz earned another corner a minute later. The Hawks couldn't capitalize on either chances but they maintained possession inside the circle and Ackerman finally found the back of the net once again to ice the game.
 
SUNY New Paltz out-shot the Lakers, 24-12, including 16-5 on goal, while also holding the advantage on corners, 15-4. Ackerman led all players with six shots, three on goal, followed by Bernhardt and Plunkett with four apiece. Woolley had two shots and put away both attempts. The Blue Point, NY native currently leads the team with eight goals on the season and is tied for third in all of the SUNYAC.
 
Seniors Mackenzie Mortimer and Ryan Dowling split time in net for the Hawks with Mortimer making two saves in about 27 minutes of action, while Dowling totaled three stops in 33 minutes. Scheblein finished with 12 saves for Oswego.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Tuesday when it hosts FDU-Florham on the North Turf Field at 3:30 p.m.
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