New Paltz, NY — In an always highly anticipated matchup between two conference rivals, the State University of New York at New Paltz battled through nearly 60 minutes of scoreless field hockey against visiting No. 15 SUNY Cortland Saturday on North Turf Field.
 
With heavy rain coming down hard as time ticked away in regulation, the Hawks struggled to transition the ball out from their defensive half and in turn, the Red Dragons took advantage as they scored what turned into the game-winning goal with 40 seconds remaining. SUNY New Paltz took a 1-0 loss, its first in the SUNYAC this season.
 
Cortland (9-1 overall, 4-0 SUNYAC) controlled the opening 15 minutes, as it kept possession on its offensive end for the majority of the quarter. SUNY New Paltz's first and only scoring chance in the first period came six minutes in after Hannah Ackerman weaved her way into the circle and drew a corner. Ackerman took a swing following the insert but her shot went wide.
 
The Hawks picked up their momentum in the second quarter, out-shooting Cortland 4-2 as they did a better job transitioning down to their offensive end. Good pressure by Amanda Quenneville on SUNY New Paltz's press forced an errant pass that was intercepted by Meghan Gunning, leading to another corner for the Hawks resulting in a shot played in by Rachel Tama but the Red Dragons defended well.
 
 
In the final minute of the half, Cortland picked a pass near the sideline at midfield and quickly worked the ball down field to earn a scoring opportunity with a penalty corner. However, SUNY New Paltz showed its defensive prowess in front of net as Morgan Woolley came out as the flyer to get a stick on the ball and cleared out of pressure to hold the 0-0 stalemate entering halftime.  
SUNY New Paltz had a prime opportunity in the third to take the lead, as Madeline Meyer drew a green card on the Red Dragons' Jamie Snyder but the Hawks couldn't get the ball in the circle to create anything dangerous on the two-minute man-up opportunity.
 
Ackerman earned the Hawks' only corner in the fourth five minutes into the period and found a shot on cage but the attempt went wide. Cortland quickly got out and threatened on the other end, but Gail Comiskey came out and made a nice stop to hold the score at zeros. Quenneville and Tama each took swings at cage, but the Red Dragons' Emma Morgan came up big and made back-to-back stops with about eight minutes left.
 
The matchup seemed destined to head into overtime, but Cortland continued its persistency on its offensive half with the Hawks' defense holding strong but struggling to transition the ball out from midfield. Cortland took advantage and pushed the ball in front of goal and out of the scrum Sydney Reinisch snuck the ball past Comiskey for the goal.
 
A tight game throughout, Cortland held the slight advantage in shots, 14-12, including 7-6 in shots on target but generated 11 penalty corners to the Hawks' four. Each goalie made four stops with two defensive saves apiece. Ackerman led SUNY New Paltz with five shots, followed by Quenneville and Tama with three.
 
The loss brings SUNY New Paltz's record to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the SUNYAC. All the Hawks' losses have come in one-goal games against top-25 programs.
 
They are back in action Tuesday going on the road to face Ithaca at 4 p.m.

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