New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team came away with its second-straight win Wednesday and stayed unbeaten at home after defeating US Merchant Marine Academy, 3-1.
Despite the win, it was an uneven performance for the Hawks. Going up against a big and physical Mariners (1-3 overall) team that excel in the air and off their set-piece opportunities, SUNY New Paltz struggled to control the tempo of the game and possess in long-stretches of the match. However, they did create enough on the offensive end to put away three goals to pull them to 3-1 on the season.
"We really just didn't execute very well," said Hawks coach
Kyle Clancy. "We couldn't build out of the back. They weren't patient like we asked them to be. They didn't handle the pressure well. We just did a lot of things that we uncharacteristic of this group and kudos to them. They made it a tough game. They did exactly what I thought they would do and that's why we scheduled the game.
"I was mostly disappointed in our effort. They out-worked us, and I never want that to be our M.O — that they out-worked us."
Kenneth Roby nearly gave SUNY New Paltz a quick 1-0 lead after beating his defender in the box and then getting tripped up as he cut the ball back into the six, but the officials kept the whistles silent, and the game played on. USMMA countered a minute later, getting behind the Hawks defense for a 2-v-1 situation. The ball played across was greeted by a wide-open Mariner, but the offside flag raised to keep the game scoreless at the five-minute mark.
Gallery: (9-8-2021) Men's Soccer vs. USMMA (9/8/21)
SUNY New Paltz took the lead midway through the first half, catching the Mariners on a quick counter. The ball was played down the flank to
Philip Varner who laid a perfectly waited pass toward the box for
Brandon Davenport making a run toward goal. Davenport beat his defender and toe-poked his shot past the keeper coming off his line for his first goal of the 2021 season.
Two minutes later, the Hawks added on. Roby again created havoc around the box and earned a foul that was called just outside the box. Although SUNY New Paltz had an argument for another foul in the box and penalty, it took advantage of the free kick anyway. Roby curved a ball toward the middle of the six-yard box, which was met by centerback
Owen McGarrity sailing past defenders to head-in his first career goal and push SUNY New Paltz up, 2-0.
Although the Hawks went into the half boasting a 2-0 advantage, Clancy and his coaching staff regrouped his guys and challenged them to have a better effort in the following 45 minutes. They needed a few minutes to pick up, as USMMA took advantage of an early opportunity in the 46th minute to slice the hosts lead in half.
SUNY New Paltz responded with another score 10 minutes later. Off a corner, the Mariners were too physical defending and was called for a push in the back as the cross was played in, giving the Hawks a penalty kick opportunity. Roby, who already netted a PK in the team's home opener Sept. 2, stepped up once again and calmly buried the attempt to push SUNY New Paltz up, 3-1.
Both teams had chances to add to the score. One of the best opportunities late for the Hawks was a dangerous ball played across the box by
Papis Konate and was ready to be met by
James Maltes, but the senior couldn't locate the pass and wasn't able to get a shot off in close-range. The Mariners then countered by earning a throw deep in their offensive half. A long throw was placed just inside the six-yard box with SUNY New Paltz struggling to clear. The scrum resulted in an USMMA forward Derek Vanasse getting an attempt on frame that just missed the top right corner of goal.
As time dwindled in the second half, the Hawks nearly added on once more. Catching the Mariners pressing high, SUNY New Paltz got out on a 2-v-1 of their own with Maltes on the ball and
Ryan Stevens making a run down the field beside him. But, USMMA caught Stevens offside to end the threat, which resulted in the game ending in the 3-1 outcome.
"We talked and we thought we had maybe 15 good minutes of possession of us controlling the rhythm and tempo of the game, which is exactly what were hoping to have more of," Clancy said. "But as Koz [assistant coach
Matt Koziol] said, we did it and then we got too comfortable and then we went individual, driving into five or six guys, not switching the point of the attack, not using the space that was open on the right, which we were really coming down well. So, I don't know, maybe youth. Who knows?"
Roby finished with a goal and an assist on two shots to lead the team offensively. Although Hawks keeper
Marc DePasquale was busy coming out on multiple balls played high into the box, he registered just one save in the win.
The Hawks have a short turnaround, as they're back on the South Turf Field Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. game against visiting Farmingdale State.
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