New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's lacrosse team hosted SUNY Potsdam for its first SUNYAC game of the season Saturday at North Turf Field and came away not only with its first conference victory, but its largest margin of victory of the year after defeating the Bears, 17-6.
"Big SUNYAC win. It was exciting to start conference play with a decisive win," said SUNY New Paltz coach
Randy Vite. "I told the team that every game here on out is going to be the next biggest game of the season, because we need to do our job in these conference games to make playoffs and make a conference run. So, great first game and great first win."
The Hawks took a commanding, 5-1 lead at the end of the first quarter with goals by
Maddy Carullo,
Alyssa Indelicato,
Katie Zito,
Maddie Gillis and
Kaitlyn Shaw. Zito highlighted the first half of action as she scored her second goal of the game midway through the second quarter off a feed from Carullo to give her team a 9-3 lead and notch her 100th career point in the process. With the goal, Zito landed in the 100-point club, joining just six other Hawks. After adding one more goal to her afternoon, Zito sits 10th all-time in points and is two goals shy of breaking into the top-10 all-time in goals, while currently pacing the SUNYAC in goals as well with 23 on the season thus far.
Gallery: (3-26-2022) Women's Lacrosse vs Potsdam 3/26/22
"So proud of
Katie Zito, not only on the field but off the field she is an awesome leader. All of her teammates look up to her," Vite said. "On the field, her lacrosse I.Q and her catching and finishing is pretty unmatched. She's really risen to be our top leaders, a go-to player on the attacking end. She wants the ball in big moments and really steps up to the plate. Everyone really looks to her on the offensive end and she's disciplined, she's composed, and I can't wait to see what she does the rest of the season."
After Potsdam cut the deficit to five at halftime, the Hawks regrouped and made sure to put the game away in the following 30 minutes. They opened up the third quarter with seven-straight goals, including five in a three-minute span early in the period. Zito got the rout started, finishing on a feed from Shaw. Shaw won the ensuing draw, which led to a quick goal by Indelicato. Shaw won the draw once more and eventually capitalized off an assist by Indelicato. Gillis earned possession on the next two draws with Carullo and Shaw capping off the spurt with goals. Shannon Bronsan and
Kira Tucker capped off the 7-0 quarter with goals in the final 2:30 remaining before the fourth.
"We definitely started moving the ball better and saw some better feeds inside," Vite said. "We finished against their zone, and we were shooting to score on their goalie in the second half."
SUNY New Paltz set a season-high in shots (37) and assists (10) in the game and tied its season-high in shots on goal (27). The Hawks dominated in nearly every category, out-shooting Potsdam, 34-15, totaled more ground balls (10-2) and draws (17-8) and won the turnover battle (13-10).
Shaw and Carullo each tallied six points apiece with Shaw tying a career-high five goals for the third time this season, while adding one assist, while Carullo led the team with four assists, setting a career-high in the making and tying for second most in a single-game all-time. Indelicato followed with three goals and an assist, while Tucker added a goal, an assist, a ground ball and two caused turnovers. Shaw and Gillis each had five draw controls with Gillis pitching in with a goal and two assists in the win.
The win was the second consecutive for the Hawks who improved to 3-4 on the year. They'll try to improve their overall and SUNYAC mark in their next outing Saturday when they host The College at Brockport on the North Turf Field.
Game Highlights vs. Potsdam
********************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on
Twitter at
@nphawks,
Instagram and
Facebook at
@newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our
Youtube channel,
New Paltz Hawks.
