New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team opened up the season with a 1-1 double-overtime draw against visiting Sage College Saturday.
 
The two teams were evenly matched with the Hawks controlling portions of play, but the Gators (1-0-1) did a good job countering on the attack and was physical in the midfield to win 50-50 balls and possession.
 
Sage got on the board first. Ten minutes into the game, catching SUNY New Paltz with a high back line, the Gators played a long ball through the left flank with the visitors getting on the other end. Kyra Russo came off her line for the Hawks and the pressure inevitably forced the shot an inch too long as it hit the post. Sage swarmed on the rebound and Natalie Ricci was there to put in the second-chance opportunity.
 
"I think overall the goal against was self-inflicted and something that we want to use as a teachable moment and get better from moving forward," said Hawks coach Mike Eckberg. "I think throughout the game there were moments where we saw the ability to put an appropriate amount of pressure on the ball and that created opportunities in our attack. Then we saw break downs in our midfield that led to second balls, creating opportunities for Sage and that just has to be something where we're dialed in and understand how critical first and second balls are in the game like today."   
SUNY New Paltz brushed off the early deficit and nearly knotted the score two minutes later. Maggie Cameron, attacking from the left back position, played a lofted cross over the six-yard box. The Gators' Mickaela Buzzy miss-judged her jump and the ball sailed over her head with Jess Funke waiting at the back post, but her attempt went high of the open goal to keep the score at 1-0, Gators.
 
The Hawks registered six shots in the first half and although they matched that same out-put in the second, they began creating more chances through good combination play in the middle with Rachel Eisert and Siena Diaz-Colon and they soon capitalized out of the break.
 
SUNY New Paltz won back possession in its offensive third and played the ball out wide before centering to the middle of the box for Eisert and Diaz-Colon both running in. Diaz-Colon got a first touch on the cross that landed in front of Eisert who placed her shot bottom left corner — no chance for Buzzy — and tied the game at one with 40 minutes still to go in regulation.
 
Diaz-Colon nearly gave her team the lead 20 minutes later. Working hard down the left flank, she edged her defender to the end line and centered a ball toward the top of the six-yard box for Cailin Ruoti ready to put the ball away. Buzzy came out and made a good stop, but the ball came loose with Lisette Palomo trailing. The fifth year forward got a touch to try and knock in the rebound, but the Gators defense was there for the heads up play in front of the open goal to clear out of danger.
 
"I think we talked a lot more at halftime just trying to understand how we can create a lot more attacking sequences, and that we were a little predictable In our attack," Eckberg said. "We certainly had success finding Ally [Donovan] and Siena [Diaz-Colon] wide early, but that we didn't create anything from that. I think being negative one, in the midfield hurt, but I think it was a matter for us, as we move forward our I.Q level is good, our technical ability is good, but we didn't show it in moments that it mattered. When you have those pieces, it was just a matter of, why weren't they working? Was it a lack of communication? Was it a lack of desire? I think tomorrow we have an opportunity to rebound and learn from different mistakes. That is what is exciting. We have a quick turn around and we have the opportunity to compete again from a base without having competed in over two years."
 
The game then almost swung to Sage's favor. Lydia Malkiewicz found space at the top of the box and ripped a laser heading toward goal. Her shot nearly snuck under the cross bar, but instead struck pipe and deflected down before crossing the goal line. Sage was there for the rebound by Kyra Russo got her hand on the second attempt to make the save and preserve the tie.
 
SUNY New Paltz had its best chance to win in regulation with six minutes left. Parris Burke beat her defender down the sideline, cut in and had a one-v-one with Buzzy, but Buzzy made came out to cut off the angle and made a nice save on the shot. The Hawks continued to press to wind down regulation, but the score remained, forcing an extra 10 minutes of action.
 
Each team had their chances on frame in overtime with Sage having their best opportunity in the first overtime with a ball laid across on an open net but hit too hard and out of play. The Hawks, meanwhile, pressed the last 10 minutes and controlled tempo. They had a shot at goal after Burke won the ball back on a defensive miscue just about the 18-yard box. She found Ruoti in the middle who had an opening to put a shot on frame but didn't get enough on the attempt to test Buzzy and ultimately time winded down before either team added another to solidify the one-goal-apiece draw.
 
"I think what was excited was seeing their degree of accountability at the end of the game and understanding that they are holding themselves to a higher standard," Eckberg said. "That's the response we're looking for. Not that their putting their heads down, but they're understanding that we have to do other things a part of our process, marking up in the run of play, staying goal-side in the midfield for first and second balls — second ball equals possession. We want to be a possession-based team and we didn't see a lot of that today and that certainly could've been due to going up against a different formation that we don't see often, but I think regardless space is always available on the field. It's just a matter of how well we do in finding different pockets of space."
 
Burke and Ruoti led the Hawks with four shots apiece, with both coming off the bench and providing good minutes for their team. Eisert followed with two, both going on frame. Russo registered seven saves in net, while Buzzy had eight for the Gators.
 
The Hawks are back in action Sunday when they face RPI for a 5 p.m. matchup.

Hawks vs. Sage Game Highlights

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