Plattsburgh, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's lacrosse team collected its third win of the season Monday in convincing fashion, blowing out hosting SUNY Plattsburgh, 22-6.
 
The Hawks (3-2 overall, 3-2 SUNYAC) were in an evenly matched game within the opening 10 minutes, as the Cardinals (0-2, 0-2) matched the visitors goal-for-goal and only trailed, 4-3 with 20 minutes remaining in the half.
 
With SUNY New Paltz struggling to find the back of the net to start, junior attacker Katie Zito picked her team up and became the catalyst on a four-goal run that allowed the Hawks to jump out in front and begin their rout.
 
"Zito's movement has been fantastic all year and today she had a great day with the ball," said Hawks coach Keith Detelj. "The team did a great job to set her up and Zito showed how dangerous around the goal she is." 
Zito started the run after dodging through to the cage, firing a shot on Plattsburgh's Alexa Cassidy who made the initial stop. Zito kept after the play though, picked up her own rebound and cleaned up for her second goal of the game. She followed with another goal a minute later, again active with a ground ball pick up before burying her third of the day to push her team's lead to three.

Amy Hofer, who was recently named SUNYAC Athlete of the Week Monday following a standout three-game stretch, added on to the lead as she split a pair of defenders on her way to the cage and placed her shot bottom corner for the goal. Zito scored another to cap the four-goal run, netting a pass from sophomore midfielder Maddie Gillis with about 15 minutes left in the first half.
 
Emily Caoilli ended the scoreless streak for the Cardinals, as she got her shot attempt past SUNY New Paltz's Hailey Aber to cut the Hawks advantage in half. Detelj immediately called a timeout after the goal and SUNY New Paltz responded with a 5-0 run to end the half.
 
"Overall the players agreed that we needed to increase our intensity and finish our battles together," Detelj said. "They did and found success instantly."
 
Freshman Kaitlyn Shaw earned a free position attempt, which she buried to instigate the run. A good defensive stand by SUNY New Paltz about four minutes later was capped with a caused turnover by Hawks sophomore defender Cayci Hill, who scooped the ground ball and got the ball over to her team's offensive third. Zito found the ball at her stick and capitalized with her fifth goal of the evening to set a new career-high.

Hofer registered another off a free position attempt to push the score to 11-4 with four minutes remaining in the first half. She scored once more before the break two minutes later, grabbing the ensuing draw control after a goal by Ella Malanga brought SUNY New Paltz's lead to eight, as Hofer drove to goal and finished her fourth, making the score 13-4 entering the final 30 minutes.
  The Hawks dominated the second half, allowing just seven shots by the Cardinals. They out-scored their opposition 9-2 in the period and rolled to the 16-point victory.
 
Zito's five goals and five points were both career-high's for the junior. Hofer also finished with five goals on six shots, while also tying for the team lead in draw controls with six, matching fellow senior Keydy Espinoza. Malanga also set new career-high's Monday, scoring four goals and finishing with five points on the day. 
 
"Ella coming back into form and her versatility along with her midfield buddies gives us many opportunities to be creative," said Detelj of the sophomore defensive midfielder.
 
Gillis quietly finished with a productive afternoon, recording one goal and a team-high three assists, to go along with a ground ball and a draw control. Freshman defender Kate St. Lucia led the team with four caused turnovers and even scored her first career goal to aid in the victory.
 
"The defense all contributed to hold Plattsburgh to just over a handful of goals," Detelj said. "It was a great way to bounce back today. Not to mention Kate getting a goal."
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Thursday when it hosts SUNY Oneonta on the North Turf Field for a 4 p.m. game. The Red Dragons defeated the Hawks Saturday, 17-8.

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