New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz suffered its first loss of the season Saturday, falling 3-1 to visiting Skidmore College.
 
The Hawks were caught in the back in just the third minute with the Thoroughbreds taking advantage. Madison Bourassa ran onto a ball played down the flank to a wide-open Kyra Russman-Araya who sat unmarked near the six for the easy goal. 

Skidmore added on in the 34th minute, as Kat Dunn won the ball back just outside the six-yard box and beat SUNY New Paltz goalie Kyra Russo high to push the deficit for the hosts, 2-0. 

The Thoroughbreds went into halftime with a two-goal lead, but the Hawks had their chances in the opening 45 minutes. One of the best came on a free kick just outside the 18 after Skidmore keeper Claire Wolgast was called for picking up a back pass from her defender. Katie Buquicchio stepped to take the set piece, but her attempt went high of frame. 

In the final six minutes of the half, freshman Brooke Kelleher narrowly cut the score off pure effort. On a full sprint to cut off a pass toward the box, Kelleher beat Wolgast who came out to clear, and put a shot inches away from the empty goal but instead hitting the side netting to hold the Hawks first-half chances. 
 
Kelleher helped SUNY New Paltz to its first goal of the game midway through the second period. With the Hawks earning a free kick about 30 yards out, Emma Voege played a good service inside the six. Kelleher was there to follow on the ball played in but collided with keeper Avery Rogers who was also came out to get her hands on the ball. Gaby Treble found the loose ball and knocked in the empty net goal to trim the difference to one.  The Hawks couldn't ride on the momentum and another defensive miscue was followed by a solid strike by Dunn six minutes later to put the game away. The Thoroughbreds played a ball inside to Dunn, who cut back to her right and placed a bending shot just out of reach of SUNY New Paltz keeper Maddie Franklin for the third score of the game.
 
"You're never going to win a game when you give up three goals, flat out," said Hawks coach Mike Eckberg. "I think in all moments there were significant defensive errors on our part. I think on both sides today, absolutely have to convert opportunities in the 18 whether it's in the run of play or on set pieces and we had both, and we converted one set piece. That was on my freshman who was fearless, going into a 50-50 and certainly a credit to Brooke on that on a great service from Emma." 
 
SUNY New Paltz earned a corner in the last 15 minutes but without an attempt on frame. Treble had a nice pass through into Donovan in the 79th minute but Donovan was caught just offside to end the threat. 
 
Donovan had another good opportunity with 10 minutes to play, as she beat Skidmore's back line, this time staying on side, but couldn't get her hips around on the shot attempt, which went wide of net. 
 
The Thoroughbreds had the slight advantage in shots, 11-10, but the Hawks had more looks on frame, 6-4, while the hosts earned four corners to Skidmore's two. Buquicchio led her team with four shots, two on goal, followed by Donovan with two. 
 
"All around, to get final third entry balls into the 18, you have to be deadly with them and you have to be dangerous," Eckberg said. "We didn't convert those chances and goals fuel the fire and changes the momentum and tempo of the game. To get back one to make it 2-1 and then to concede a third, I think there just needs to be a little bit more maturity and urgency on our part on both sides of the ball to No. 1 keep it zero in the second half and convert our chances."
 
SUNY New Paltz looks to overcome its first loss of the season with a bounce-back win on the road over Bard Wednesday before entering SUNYAC action against SUNY Potsdam Sept. 17.
 
"I think we have all the pieces. I think we've got really, really great mature, experienced seniors and I think we've got really excellent personnel and this is where you've got to dig in and figure out who you are as a team and individuals," Eckberg said. "Not everything is going to be sunshine and rainbows and I think we experienced that today." 

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