Geneseo, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team had a tough task to play a back-to-back on the road against perennial power SUNY Geneseo Saturday.
 
The Hawks (2-4-1 overall, 0-2 SUNYAC) defended well in the midfield and matched the Knights in opportunities, but two counter-attacks off corner kicks by SUNY New Paltz was the difference as Geneseo capitalized on both to cement a 2-0 victory over the visiting Hawks.
 
"We had quality opportunities, but I think it's a matter of execution in those moments in a game like this a little moment needs to become a big moment, and we didn't make those little moments become bigger moments for us," said SUNY New Paltz coach Mike Eckberg. "I think that is something that we need to walk away with having a greater desire, a greater accountability to make the most with the chances that we do get. That can create additional motivation and fuel as we manage a 90-minute game."
 
The Hawks out-shot the Knights, 5-3 in the first half with the hosts holding the advantage on corners, 3-2. Ironically, Geneseo took advantage off of one of the Hawks' set pieces rather then their own, catching SUNY New Paltz off balance with a loose ball played out that turned into a 2-v-1 the other way. SUNY New Paltz goalie Kyra Russo came out and played the ball well, making the initial stop, but Liv Raucci did a good job of following up on the rebound, which just trickled over the goal line as the Hawks defense tried to clear retreating back. 
Geneseo generated more shots in the second half and capitalized on its second counter in the 60th minute. With the Hawks earning another corner, Rachel Eisert found space to get a shot on net for SUNY New Paltz, but the Knights quickly transitioned the other way and used their speed to create numbers on the other end. Hannah Sullivan did a good job of finding Skala Mckinely open on the weak side on essentially another 2-v-1 situation that led to an easy finish for McKinley in front of goal.
 
"I think it's more to just discuss what our defensive set is during an attacking set and how we can be mindful of managing counters in our attacking set pieces," Eckberg said.
 
SUNY New Paltz had a daunting task of coming back from a two-goal deficit against arguably the best team in the SUNYAC with less than 30 minutes remaining in the game. Siena Diaz-Colon registered back-to-back shots, the first coming in the 70th minute that went wide right and another in the 74th, forcing Knights keeper Mollie Collins to make a save on the attempt, but the offense stalled there for the Hawks.
 
Eisert led SUNY New Paltz with four shots, three of which were on goal, Dana Salinas, Diaz-Colon and Parrris Burke each had two on the day. Russo finished with five stops in the game.
 
The Hawks are back in action next weekend when they visit two more SUNYAC foes, SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Plattsburgh.
 
"I think there was a high degree of accountability and a high degree of understanding in not being OK with six points getting taken away from us," Eckberg said. "I think that that needs to be, whether it's that additional one percent or an additional 10 percent, the edge that's needed. We need to understand that that edge needs to be there in order to get a result this upcoming weekend."

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