Cortland, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz took on top seeded SUNY Cortland in the 2023 SUNYAC Championship Saturday with the Hawks falling in a one-goal contest, 2-1.
 
SUNY New Paltz out-shot the Red Dragons, 16-8 in the game including, 6-5 in shots on goal, while garnering 11 corners to Cortland's, nine.
 
The Hawks narrowly took the lead to open up the first quarter. Madeline Meyer made a nice tackle by the sideline to start the transition for SUNY New Paltz up the field. Cortland mishandled a ball in the back and Miranda Britton took advantage, earning a corner for her team.
 
Britton inserted the ensuing penalty corner to Hannah Ackerman who ripped a shot heading far post toward Birtton who got a deflection that was headed high into the top left corner, but Red Dragons goalie Emma Morgan made the glove save with Britton given a green card on the play to put SUNY New Paltz down a player.
 
 
The result was a two-goal swing, as Cortland immediately capitalized after immediately getting the ball down on its offensive end and earning a corner of its own. Sydney Reinisch fed Hanna Corrigan who found the far corner for the game's opening goal to push the Red Dragons up, 1-0.
 
Despite the deficit, the Hawks continued to play well in the middle of the field that led to chances in the circle. Ackerman showed off some of her stick skills, losing three defenders while making her way into the circle to earn another corner for her team but Cortland defended well and didn't allow an attempt on cage.  
The Red Dragons maintained possession in their offensive 25 at the start of the second quarter, but SUNY New Paltz did well to stymy the attack and eventually got the ball out of their defensive zone around the nine-minute mark and from there out-shot the Red Dragons, 4-0 while earning three corners before the period ended but still, the score remained at 1-0.
 
The Hawks started the second half strong, as Angelina Regels and Britton both earned corners within the first eight minutes, but neither opportunity found the back of the net. In turn, the Red Dragons managed some momentum to end the period as they registered back-to-back corners with six minutes to go. Gail Comiskey came out and made a nice stop on the first attempt, but Cortland answered with a goal on the second try as Isabel Adams played a ball across to Gianna Trufio for the score, pushing the lead to 2-0.
 
SUNY New Paltz continued to work with the time in regulation ticking down and cut the deficit in half with six minutes remaining in the fourth. Britton earned another corner and inserted to Ackerman who let the ball play out to Sam Moran. Moran found Regels wide and the sophomore fed a pass across the goal for Britton who tapped in the ball for the score.
 
The Hawks kept the pressure on and whipped balls into the circle but couldn't get anything clean on goal with Cortland able to hold on to clinch the 2-1 win.  
 
SUNY New Paltz ends with a 14-5 overall record, all five losses including Saturday were one goal games. Ranked sixth in the latest regional poll, the Hawks have an opportunity for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament with the NCAA Division III selection show set for Sunday evening.
 
Ackerman, Meghan Gunning and Amanda Quenneville were all named to the All-Tournament team.

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