New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz hosted No. 12 SUNY Cortland Wednesday on South Turf Field and lost for just the second time on the year, falling 2-0.
 
The game was scoreless at the break with each team garnering chances on net with the Red Dragons (12-2-2 overall, 6-1-1 SUNYAC) holding the slight advantage, 5-4. However, the Hawks had the most dangerous attempt of the half with about five minutes remaining. Freshman left back Samuel Snider pushed up to support offensively and cut the ball back, completely losing his defender before playing a nifty ball through to Philip Varner who got in behind. Varner's shot, however, leaned just off the far post and out of play with the SUNY New Paltz's bench in near celebration of the almost early lead.
 
Cortland had multiple set pieces inside its offensive half in the first half including three corners, but its tightest chance came off a free kick just outside the box on a foul by Yare Harris. The Red Dragons put the ensuing attempt on frame with the shot dipping just over the cross bar but Hawks goalkeeper Christian Micheli looked like he was there to cover.
 
 
The Red Dragons held the advantage in the second half with 11 shots in the last 45 minutes and turned the momentum with a quick opening goal in the 50th minute. SUNY New Paltz had trouble getting the ball out from the box, and on the re-defend the Red Dragons won the ball back and caught Micheli off his line, as Cortland's Yasin Choukri chipped his attempt over the Carle Place native for the first of the day.
 
The tempo sped up from there with each team playing more direct. Joseph DiPreta, Alex Wyant and Yare Harris each had shots on goal for the Hawks but none on frame. SUNY New Paltz earned a throw down in their offensive third with Ryan Bochenski playing a long throw in toward the six-yard box. The Hawks couldn't capitalize, however, and with the hosts having numbers up, the Red Dragons cleared and quickly transitioned on the break leading to a 1-v-1 goal by Choukri to double the Cortland lead.
 
SUNY New Paltz earned a pair of corner kicks in the final 10 minutes but was unable to put anything dangerous on frame. In the end, the Red Dragons held on disallowing the Hawks to possess and limited their chances resulting in the 2-0 outcome.
 
Bochenski and DiPreta led the team with two shots apiece, while Micheli finished with three saves off 16 shots against.
 
The loss dropped SUNY New Paltz to 8-2-4 on the season and 3-2-2 in the SUNYAC with 12 points in the conference to sit fourth on the leaderboard ahead of Buffalo State also with 12. The Hawks close out the regular season Saturday with a pivotal game against Fredonia on South Turf Field at 1 p.m. The team will celebrate its six seniors on Senior Day prior to the game.

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