New Paltz, NY — Through three quarters, the State University of New York at New Paltz looked as though they were going to pull off one of the biggest upsets in program history.

The Hawks hosted No. 14 The College at Brockport Saturday at North Turf field and held a 9-6 lead entering the final 15 minutes, but the Golden Eagles took advantage of extra possessions in the fourth and scored six unanswered to come away with a 12-9 win.
 
"I think that that's the best we've played all season," said SUNY New Paltz coach Randy Vite. "We were so composed against a really good team. We executed our game plan. Our game plan was long possessions with quality looks at cage, not forcing any bad shots. We were shooting to score and finishing and really got quality looks at cage. We ran with them, and it was really exciting."
 
The Hawks (3-5, 1-1 SUNYAC) dominated on the draw early, which was crucial in an early 2-0 lead. They were patient within their offense, working the shot clock down and finding good looks on frame against one of the best goalies in the region in Brockport's Morgan Elmer.
 
Maddie Gillis was the benefactor, taking advantage on isolation sets and scoring back-to-back to push her team ahead within the first four minutes. Brockport won the next draw and immediately capitalized to cut into the deficit less than a minute later. After the Golden Eagles added another with about eight minutes left in the period, Gillis again found the back of the cage following a defensive stand by the Hawks, leading to a good clear.
 
 
Brockport scored two in the opening three minutes of the second quarter, but Kaitlyn Shaw tied the game soon after. Taking advantage on a 1-on-1, the Rye Brook, NY native rounded the crease, got the edge on her defender and fired a rocket over Elmer's head just under the top pipe for the score. The goal swung momentum toward the Hawks, as Shannon Brosnan won the ensuing draw control leading to another SUNY New Paltz goal with Gillis finding a cutting Katie Zito for the score.
 
Shaw was the catalyst on the following Hawks goal, forcing a turnover on the defensive end after getting her stick out to deflect a pass with her clearing the ball the other way. SUNY New Paltz settled in on offense and set up one of the prettiest goals they've had all year. Shaw found Zito cutting just underneath the crease, as the senior caught the pass and backhanded a shot past Elmer for the highlight goal to push the Hawks ahead, 6-4. 
After a pair of defensive stands, SUNY New Paltz finally cleared past its restraining line and took advantage of another offensive set with Gillis feeding Zito once again to help the Hawks to a three-goal lead entering halftime.
 
SUNY New Paltz saw its largest lead at four at the start of the second half, as Shaw netted a beautiful goal, stretching to make a catch on a pass from Alyssa Indelicato behind the cage and finding the top corner for the score. Brockport won the ensuing draw and capitalized on the opportunity with a goal and added another off a turnover in the middle of the field by the Hawks. However, SUNY New Paltz made sure to score one last goal in the final seconds of the quarter and went into the fourth touting a three-goal advantage.
 
The final period was all Brockport, as they dominated possession. After a save by Elmer, the Golden Eagles cleared and immediately scored to work their way back. The Hawks won the ensuing draw but turned the ball immediately over and Brockport wasted little time finding the back of the cage again, as it trimmed the deficit to one with nearly 11 minutes to go.
 
Francesca Corozzo was handed a yellow card on a dangerous check on the defensive end, and the Golden Eagles took advantage of the man-up situation. Hailey Aber made the initial stop on a free position attempt, but the Hawks couldn't clear, leading to another free position that bounced past Aber for the score. Although Gillis came up with the draw on the following play, a save by Elmer led to a quick clear and goal by Brockport with eight minutes left that gave them back the lead.
 
The Golden Eagles dug in defensively from there and held SUNY New Paltz to just one shot in the last eight minutes to hold on to the win, putting away two insurance goals in the final two minutes with the Hawks pressing to win the ball back.
 

GOAALL!!
Shaw snags the pass and fires into the back of the net, adding to Hawks lead 8-5 early 3Q #NPHawks #NPWLAX pic.twitter.com/pJx64ErHzt

— New Paltz Hawks (@nphawks) April 2, 2022

 
"I think it was unlucky," Vite said. "Whoever was winning the draw was putting the ball in the back of the net and we lost a couple draws and a couple calls didn't go our way, and they put it in the back of the net, but that takes nothing away from the way we played that whole game."
 
Gillis led the way offensively with six points (three goals and two assists) to go along with a ground ball pick up and three draw controls. Shaw followed with three goals and an assist, with a ground ball, two caused turnovers and three draw controls, while Zito also added three goals. Aber finished with 11 saves and Elmer with 10.
 
A win over the Golden Eagles would have marked the first ever over a nationally ranked opponent and against Brockport altogether, but the Hawks may have a chance to see them again in they make a run in the postseason. Their journey toward that feat continues April 9 when they travel to face Oswego State at 1 p.m.
 
"That was a statement game for the SUNYAC," Vite said. "It should be confidence for us that we can run with anyone in this conference and make a SUNYAC run this year."

Game Highlights


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