New Paltz, NY — Coming off a tough loss against No. 7 nationally ranked Kean, the State University of New York at New Paltz entered Saturday's contest against visiting Brockport with one goal — play a full 60 minutes of high-level hockey.
 
The Hawks (6-2 overall, 2-0 SUNYAC) did just that, as they dominated throughout the full four quarters of action with the result reflecting their play on the field as they walked away with a triumphant, 7-0 win.
 
"I think today we wanted to play our best hockey for the entire game," said SUNY New Paltz senior forward Natasia Plunkett. "I think our biggest issue against Kean was that we were playing great hockey for about 55 minutes and we needed 60, so today we came out and played 60 minutes of great hockey and we didn't let up. We didn't let any goals get to us and I think we just kept pushing and pushing, and I think that's why we had the result that we did."
 
From the opening whistle, the Hawks controlled the game and nearly earned the 1-0 as they earned a stroke two minutes into the game. Ella Buchanan came up with the stop for the Golden Eagles on an attempt by Shannon Bernhardt, but SUNY New Paltz finally struck after keeping pressure on Brockport's defensive end.
 
Plunkett was the catalyst as she found a rebound off her initial shot on cage, batting it down mid-air for the game-opening goal. Plunkett scored her second seven minutes later, as Bernhardt sent a pass across the circle with Buchanan getting a touch that landed right at the stick of Plunkett who blasted her shot into cage. Bernhardt then got in on the action as she rounded out the first quarter with her fourth goal of the year to boost her team's lead to 3-0 after 15 minutes.
 
SUNY New Paltz coach Shanna Szablinski gave her bench ample minutes throughout the game and they performed, keeping the high level and continuing to add pressure onto the Golden Eagles' defensive backs. Freshman Angelina Regels added onto the scoring a minute into the second period, registering her first goal of her Hawks career. A minute later fellow freshman Miranda Britton put away her fourth of the season off an assist by freshman Ayden Fleming to give SUNY New Paltz a 5-0 advantage entering halftime.  
"Our team in practice, in every game and even in the offseason, we hold ourselves to such a high standard for the starters and the reserves and I think that really reflects when we get a game like this when everyone can step on the field," Plunkett said. "It's excited to see our teammates accomplish new things, especially the freshmen and it's just really great to have that feeling and everyone getting some time on the field."
 
Britton scored her second off an assist by Plunkett, re-directing a shot into the cage to bring the score to 6-0 with 14 minutes to go in the third, while Plunkett capped off the game with her third goal of the day for her first career hattrick.
 
"It was great to bounce back after a tough loss against Kean," Plunkett said. "I think we really made the changes this week in practice, and we came back, second SUNYAC game, we knew we wanted to come out strong. We know Brockport is a team with really great spirit and we knew we had to come out with more and I think we did an excellent job of that. Our goal was to play 60 minutes of great hockey and I think we really got that goal."
 
The Hawks out-shot Brockport, 29-1 with 21 shots on goal and had 12 corners while holding the Golden Eagles without one throughout the game.
 
Plunkett led the way and finished with a career game, finishing with three goals, seven points and seven shots, all career bests for the senior. With her performance Saturday, she currently leads the Hawks in goals (9) and points (20) and is just four points shy of breaking her own single-season record. Plunkett also adds her name to fifth all-time, tied with Carly Croteau and Sarah Schloss, for single-game points.
 
"This is definitely the best hockey of my career," Plunkett said. "I think I'm playing with a lot more confidence. I'm playing better defense and I think overall I'm just doing better than in the past years and that's exactly what I want for my senior year."   
 
Bernhardt also added seven shots, followed by Hannah Ackerman with five. Britton registered two a career-high two goals off two shots in 38 minutes off the bench.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Tuesday in a non-conference road matchup against FDU-Florham at 7 p.m.

Post-Game Interview with Natasia Plunkett


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