Geneseo, NY — After an historic season for the State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer program, earning a spot in the SUNYAC Semifinals for the first time in more than a decade, the 2022 campaign came to an end Wednesday afternoon at SUNY Geneseo.
 
The Hawks couldn't overcome an early 2-0 deficit, which was created on a questionable call in the box that led to a penalty kick midway through the first half. They fought back to get within one twice, but couldn't put away the equalizer and fell, 3-2 to the No. 2 seeded Knights.
 
"It's a testament to the team in their ability to respond and that's all you can do is respond," said SUNY New Paltz coach Mike Eckberg. "That's what we talked about at halftime you can either choose to respond to get back into this game or you can pack your bags up and get on the bus, I was proud of their response to come back to get it to 2-1 against a good team, but we made some defensive errors that they capitalized that we can't make at this level in this game in this environment in a playoff situation."
 
Geneseo got on the board in the 22nd minute with Geneseo earning a penalty shot on a tough call in the box on senior center back Jess Funke going after a 50-50 ball on a cross in the box. The Knights' Lindsay Wright stepped up to take the attempt and buried her shot top right corner for the game's first goal.
 
 
"In the moment it seemed like a 50-50 challenge that really could go either way, but I think it sets a bad precedence in a playoff game to allow something like that to change the game that early in the game," Eckberg said.
 
The Hawks held possession in their offensive third but had limited quality chances on Knights goalie Angel Bennett. Their best opportunity came in the 28th minute, as Siena Diaz-Colon won back possession at midfield and played a ball through to Brooke Kelleher. Kelleher beat her defender and tried chipping Bennett coming off her line, but her attempt went over the crossbar and out of play.
 
Geneseo put away its next quality chance in the 31st minute with Wright having an incredible effort on the ball, cutting back to her left to find enough space to rip a left footed shot top corner for the goal.  
Each team had four shots in the half, with Geneseo holding possession in its offensive third slightly higher at a 20 percent clip, versus the Hawks' 15 percent, while the game was played primarily at midfield for most of the first half.
 
SUNY New Paltz cut the deficit to one about 10 minutes into the second half. Kelleher drew a foul near midfield that was played in by Katie Buquicchio that eventually went out for a goal kick. The Knights had trouble clearing, however, with Rachel Eisert winning the 50-50 ball back and found space to play the ball back in back post over Bennett where Kelleher was there to finish for the score.
 
The one-goal game lasted until the 68th minute, as Wright stripped the ball away at midfield and played a pass through to Liv Raucci who cut into the box, creating a 1-v-1 with Franklin and scoring on the play.
 
SUNY New Paltz didn't let up and continued to press forward. With 16 minutes to go, Lexi DeLeo lofted a pass to Parris Burke running into the box. The ball hit Burke in the back, but Mia Baldinger was there on the rebound as the freshman one-timed a dagger into the net to cut the score, 3-2.

The Hawks fought for an equalizer in the final 15 minutes, but Geneseo's defense held firm and closed out the 3-2 victory. Geneseo held the advantage in shots, 13-10 in the game with each team garnering three corners. Franklin finished with four saves in 90 minutes with Bennett making one stop. Eisert led her team with three shots followed by Kelleher with two.
 
"I just think there's an empty feeling that all of us have and what does that lead to in the offseason, and what does that lead to and how they manage the next 10 months in next year's campaign," Eckberg said.
 
SUNY New Paltz ends the season at 11-4-2 overall its best record since 2012. It graduates a coveted senior class which includes goalkeeper Kyra Russo, Buquicchio, Ally Donovan, Siena Diaz-Colon, Dana Salinas and Jess Funke.
 
"I think there's a lot to look forward, but we have to pause and respect what this team has done this year has been fantastic," Eckberg said. "They set program records. They paved a new era for this young program and so it's exciting for our young kids to see and what our upperclassmen did throughout four years."

Post-Game Highlights


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