New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz remained unbeaten at home after earning a 2-1 win on North Turf Field Tuesday over visiting RPI.
 
The Hawks improved to 8-2 on the year, winning their second straight after a 2-0 shutout over Oswego Saturday. They had a similar outing in which they dominated possession and maintained the ball on their offensive half for the majority of the game. However, it took SUNY New Paltz until the second quarter to capitalize on what was already its 15th shot on goal.
 
Ayden Fleming provided the spark, as the sophomore entered the game to open up the second quarter and contributed almost immediately, getting on the other end of the initial shot by Rachel Tama who beat her defender end line to get the attempt on cage. Fleming was there to clean up on the back post to score her team-leading eighth goal of the season, putting her team up 1-0 with about 13 minutes left in the half.
 
 
"I think today and especially reflecting on the other games, we really need to focus on playing our game and working together as a unit," said Hawks senior captain Morgan Woolley. "I think today we came out together and we came out stronger than we have in the last couple games. I think we really took the momentum and that's how we got the first goal today."  
SUNY New Paltz added another eight minutes into the third quarter, as Woolley played a pass inside to Amanda Quenneville who got a deflection on the ball to sail a shot over Engineers goalie Tess Garchinsky (19 saves) and into the top right corner for the highlight score.
 
"I was really excited for it," said Woolley who recorded her second assist on the season on the play, while Quenneville secured her fifth goal of the year. "I know coach was telling me to drive left and get the ball into the circle, and looking for the splits but I think it's really exciting to be a part of that and I was really happy to see Amanda get that nice tip over the goalie."
 
RPI made the game interesting in the fourth, scoring three minutes into the quarter on its only shot of the period and just sixth attempt the entire game. The Hawks made sure to stymy any momentum, however, as they piled on the pressure and did well in their press to maintain possession in their offensive half to at least keep the lead at the slight one-goal margin.
 
 They piled on eight shots in the period and garnered five penalty corners and although they didn't capitalize, SUNY New Paltz kept the game in control and held firm on the 2-1 win.
 
"I feel like it's really important for us, if we do let a goal in, not let that be a setback and keep pushing forward," Woolley said. "I think we did a better job of keeping up the intensity throughout the game and working on possession."
 
The Hawks ultimately out-shot the Engineers, 35-6 including 26-6 in shots on target, while totaling 15 corners to RPI's two. Tama led the team with 11 shots, followed by Quenneville with eight. Angelina Regels totaled one shot on goal with a defensive save, while SUNY New Paltz goalie Gail Comiskey finished with three saves in 60 minutes of action.
 
"I think we are getting a lot of shots off, but I think the main thing this season," Woolley added. "It's been a big focus, is making sure that we're attacking those rebounds and I think we're doing better on moving the goalie and moving the defense."
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to North Turf Field in preparation for one of its biggest matchups of the regular season as rival SUNY Cortland pays a visit. The two are both undefeated in SUNYAC play with the Red Dragons entering the game undefeated at 8-0 and nationally ranked at No. 15 in the country.
 
The Hawks and Red Dragons are set to face off Saturday at 12 p.m.
 
"I think everybody is really excited," Woolley said. "We have a really big game against Cortland. I think the game being moved to Tuesday giving us three full days of practice is really good for us to break down a lot of stuff, the press, attacking corners and just really get down to the basics in order for us to do good on Saturday."

Post-Game Featuring Morgan Woolley

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