New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz rolled to a 4-0 win over visiting Mount Saint Mary College Thursday on South Turf Field.
 
The Hawks (2-0-1 overall) were in control for the entirety of the match as they created dangerous opportunities in their offensive third from the opening whistle. Mia Baldinger was a big catalyst in a hot start, as the freshman worked well in the middle of the field, winning back possession and weaving passes through to forwards Rachel Eisert, Ally Donovan and Parris Burke.
 
Donovan forced Knights keeper Caroline Brucato into two back-to-back saves within the first minute with Baldinger also tallying two attempts on goal before SUNY New Paltz struck in the 11th minute. Baldinger was the facilitator threading a pass to Burke who made a clever bending run behind Mount Saint Mary's backline. Burke used her speed on her first touch to set up a 1-v-1 with her and Brucato who she then beat near post to give her team the 1-0 lead and notch her first collegiate goal.
 
"It was crazy for me, because it was my first college goal, so I was a little shocked at first," said Burke who is in her second season with the Hawks. "I didn't even think it went in and then it went in, and I was like, 'OK, here we go.' So, I'm excited, it was good. This game will definitely be one for the books for sure. This is going to be something I will be telling my children."

 
 
SUNY New Paltz continued working the ball inside its offensive half and tried taking advantage of its speed up top with passes played through but was caught in an offsides trap on three occasions before finally staying on to double its lead. Burke again aided in the goal as she centered a pass to Donovan running into the six-yard box. Donovan took a few touches to evade her defender and buried her shot left of Brucato for the score.
 
"I think all around, we finished our opportunities and obviously, we could have finished a few more, but the creation of those opportunities all around I thought were really dynamic in our attack," said Hawks coach Mike Eckberg. "I thought we sustained excellent tempo that we established from our back line through our midfield. We had a strong commitment to urgency in our box to preserve and get another shutout."
 
Eckberg played his second unit for a good portion of the second half and got quality minutes from each of his subs who entered. Brooke Kelleher, Gaby Treble and Addison Weiner relieved Donovan, Eisert and Burke up top and kept the level high, continuing to break down the Knights defense. Another goal finally came, as Kelleher centered a pass to Treble, who took an extra touch near the top of the six before putting away her first goal of the season.  
"I think Gaby, Addison and Brooke had a good partnership up top today," Eckberg said. "I thought they worked well with one another, and you can see with the opportunities they were able to create and finish one, and certainly could have finished a few more. And our back line with Hannah [Wellinger], Sam [Wohlmut] and Allie [Ziemak], really gave us some quality minutes in a good non-conference game."
In the final five minutes of the game, SUNY New Paltz put an exclamation point on the match with a highlight goal by Dana Salinas. After a good combination play in the midfield, the ball found Donovan who worked down the flank. She sent a cross inside the box that was mishandled by Brucato and Burke was there in front to find the rebound and center a ball to Salinas who one-timed a curling shot top left corner to cement the 4-0 outcome.
 
Burke ultimately tallied two assists and a score in 59 minutes of action to lead her team offensively, while Kelleher recorded a team-leading five shot attempts in 39 minutes off the bench with Treble and Donovan each following with four apiece. Defensively, the Hawks allowed just four shots, only one on goal, which was saved by Maddie Franklin who played all 45 minutes of the second half.
 
"Parris Burke was exceptionally dynamic off the ball," Eckberg said. "She made really great runs, everything we've been working on in training, working east and west. But all around, I thought all players today really showed I think a lot of character to stay dialed into a 90-minute game, get another shutout and come away with a well-deserved win."

SUNY New Paltz out-shot Mount Saint Mary, 28-4, along with 14-1 in shots on target, while earning six corners to the Knights' one, which came in the waning minutes of the second half.
 
The Hawks are back on South Turf Saturday to complete their home stretch against a tough Skidmore team for a 1 p.m. match. The Thoroughbreds opened up the year with a convincing 4-0 win over Castleton, before falling to SUNY Plattsburgh, 1-0. They enter Saturday's game on six days rest.
 
"It honestly feels great. We've been working really hard throughout preseason, trainings and I know that we all really wanted it, so I think that it showed on the field," Burke added. "I think Skidmore is an excellent team, but I think we're going to excel. We are very strong, and I think this win today is definitely going to put us up there."

Post-Game Interview with Parris Burke


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