Ithaca, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz lost in overtime Tuesday on the road at Ithaca College, 2-1.
Each team had 14 shots on goal in a back-and-forth affair, but the Bombers (10-3 overall) controlled the opening 15 minutes. With two minutes left in the first quarter, Ithaca broke through and had a 1-v-1 with Hawks goalie
Gail Comiskey who came out and did enough to disrupt the play as the Bombers attempt hit off the right pipe and out of play. SUNY New Paltz couldn't clear its zone and Ithaca threatened again less than two minutes later, again working the ball down into the circle and having an open look at goal but again the shot knocked off the right post to preserve the 0-0 score.
Miranda Britton was given a green card, which give the Bombers a man-up opportunity that they capitalized on four minutes into the second quarter. Once again, SUNY New Paltz struggled to clear the ball and Ithaca kept the pressure on and put away an opportunity in front of goal just out of the reach of Hawks back
Sam Moran for the opening score.
Momentum shifted however as the half winded down after SUNY New Paltz equalized. Earning a penalty corner with four minutes left,
Meghan Gunning inserted the ball to
Rachel Tama who ripped a shot.
Morgan Woolley and Gunning were there to screen the goalie for Tama's shot to sneak through for her sixth of the year, tying the score at 1-1 entering halftime.
Both team had chances in the fourth quarter. Comiskey came up with two huge stops about two minutes into the period, first on a rip from just inside the circle, getting her foot on the attempt to steer the ball away. She then made another big save on the ensuing corner to keep the score at ones.
Ithaca had another man-up opportunity after
Hannah Ackerman was handed a green card with about 10 minutes left, but on the re-start Britton intercepted the pass and took the ball into the circle and found herself with a 1-v-1 on cage. The sophomore took a big swing on net and nearly put away the go-ahead goal, but Bombers goalie Alex Clough made a nice save to end the threat.
SUNY New Paltz controlled the opening minutes of overtime. Ackerman worked the ball downfield and dribbled endline before sending a dangerous pass across the face of goal for Tama who just missed getting a stick on the ball for an attempt on goal. A few minutes later, Tama had another good chance, running after a long ball played through by Britton. She cut back toward goal, but the Ithaca defender recovered and did enough to at least force a corner, limiting the damage. Britton played the ensuing corner to Tama whose shot went near post toward Britton, but the latter couldn't handle the ball cleanly as it ran out of play.
With two minutes left, the Bombers earned their first corner of extra time. They fed the ball to Natlie Descalso who ripped a high shot through traffic for the game-winning score.
Tama led SUNY New Paltz with five shots, three on goal, followed by Britton with four. Comiskey finished with two saves on the night. The Hawks dropped to 8-4 with the loss and marked its first defeat against a non-nationally ranked opponent. They will look to end a two-game losing skid Saturday when they re-enter SUNYAC play, going on the road to face Morrisville at 1 p.m.
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