Union, NJ — The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team traveled down to New Jersey to take on No. 4 nationally ranked and undefeated Kean University (10- overall) Tuesday night.
 
The Hawks (6-2) struggled to get their offense going early and ultimately suffered just their second loss of the year, 4-1.
 
"I need to continue to emphasize the importance of playing with urgency and adding on to the play," said SUNY New Paltz coach Shanna Szablinski. "We have to find ways to be more dynamic with the ball and create positive outcomes in our attacking end. We always work hard but we need to make better decisions in transition from defense to attack."
 
The Hawks didn't generate a single shot in the first half and struggled to maintain possession with the Cougars controlling most of the opening 30 minutes, tallying 15 shots and five corners in that span. 
Kean got on the board about four minutes into the second quarter, as Peyton Mann dribbled her way down the near side of the circle following a quick re-start and ripped a shot that beat Hawks goalie Mackenzie Mortimer far corner for the opening score. The goal gave the hosting Cougars momentum, and they were able to ride the shift in play to two more goals and create the cushion needed to keep the Hawks at bay.
 
Three minutes after their opening goal, Kean found itself in front of SUNY New Paltz's net once again with Mortimer making back-to-back stops on shots by Mann, but the Hawks couldn't clear out of their zone and the Cougars were given an ensuing penalty corner, which they capitalized on with another score.
 
Two minutes later, Ja'Carra Jackson earned another penalty corner for Kean and again, the Cougars put away the opportunity as SUNY New Paltz couldn't clear away the rebound off the initial save from Mortimer, with Jorja Hibschman tapping in the rebound to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead at halftime.
 
"We understood being down three goals is always difficult to get back, but not impossible," Szablinski said. "Tonight, we struggled with basic movement of the ball, which led to many turnovers in the first half. When we hesitate and play in dead space, we cannot move the ball in transition."
 
The Hawks played with more energy in the second half and created more chances on the offensive end. They immediately earned their first corner of the afternoon just two minutes into the half, resulting in their first two shots of the game, first by Hannah Ackerman and then by Jessica Ascencao, which were both blocked.
 
SUNY New Paltz kept the pressure on the Cougars though and after a defensive stand, the Hawks pushed the ball down field toward their offensive 25. Natasia Plunkett got SUNY New Paltz's lone scoring chance going, as the junior forward won the ball back on a re-start by Kean in its defensive half. Plunkett dribbled the ball inside the circle and found Ascencao who got tripped up and earned a corner for her team. Julia Cummings played in the ensuing corner to Ascencao who fired a shot on the Cougars' Jenna Flemings, who made the save. Ascencao found the loose ball off the rebound and struck another shot, this time beating Fleming for the goal.
The Hawks matched Kean in shots in the third quarter and trailed by two entering the final 15 minutes but couldn't put away the limited chances they created in the fourth. They had the momentum off the whistle and immediately won themselves a corner with Ascencao's shot going wide of the cage.
 
Ryan Dowling, who came in to relieve Mortimer in the second quarter, made an impressive stop with seven minutes to go to preserve the two-goal deficit. The junior came out to make a stop on a 2-v-1 situation for the Cougars, then followed up with another stick save to allow her team to clear. However, Kean's forwards continued to put pressure on SUNY New Paltz's defense, as it stayed aggressive and found room for attempts on goal.
 
With four minutes left, the Cougars' Jordan Thompson essentially iced the game, as she dribbled past her defender off a quick re-start and fired a shot just inside the circle, beating Dowling low, far corner for the score.

"The second half we stopped using a big ball and worked small space, utilizing our inside players to open up lanes to goal," Szablinski said. "We were able to capitalize on the few opportunities, it just wasn't enough to close the gap and we fell short allowing another goal in.
 
"Defensively, we were allowing them to split our doubles and find feet in our circle and Kean took advantage of us being out of position."
 
Kean out-shot SUNY New Paltz, 24-7, and 19-3 in shots on goal, while also holding the advantage in penalty corners, 9-3. Mortimer finished with eight saves in about 27 minutes of action, while Dowling finished out the game with seven stops.
 
The Hawks are back in SUNYAC action Saturday when they travel to Oswego State to take on the Lakers for a 4 p.m. game.    
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