Frederick, MD — The State University of New York at New Paltz traveled down to Maryland Saturday and picked up its third-straight victory with an impressive outing against a good Hood College Blazers team, winning 11-6.
 
"Hands down the best lacrosse I have ever seen this team play," said Hawks coach Randy Vite whose team improved to 3-1 on the season. "The second they stepped on the field they brought an energy that was next level and lasted for a full 60 minutes. Offense executed our game plan; our defense was so tough, and we had seven different goal scorers. They proved today the level of lacrosse they can play and have set the new standard for our team."
 
SUNY New Paltz took a 2-0 lead within the first five minutes thanks to goals by freshman Lexi Atwater, but the Blazers responded with three unanswered, which came within a 90-second span around the seven-minute mark of the period following a free position goal and back-to-back wins off the draw.
 
Shannon Brosnan tied the game at 3-3 off a feed by Kaitlyn Shaw. Brosnan then won the ensuing draw control with the Hawks capitalizing on the possession off a free position attempt from Shaw who found the back of the cage for the 13th time this season, giving her team a 4-3 lead entering the following 15 minutes.
 
SUNY New Paltz's defense started anchoring down in the second, causing two-straight turnovers on back-to-back offensive possessions by Hood. Freshman Gabriella Tommaso came up with a pair of key stops as well, including on a free position attempt with about seven minutes left, which turned into a goal for the Hawks as they cleared the other way with Camryn Ryder scoring her second of the season to push the advantage to 5-3. SUNY New Paltz won the next draw, was patient on offense and eventually Morgan Atwater doubled the lead on an unassisted goal with about 3:40 to go in the half.  
With three minutes left before the break, the Hawks' Julia Longo was hit with a yellow causing a man-up opportunity for Hood. SUNY New Paltz stymied the chance, forcing a turnover on the defensive end by Shaw, which turned into a man-down goal in transition from Ryder to junior Emily Monroe, which pushed the lead to 7-3 at halftime.
 
The Blazers scored back-to-back goals midway through the third quarter to cut the difference to two, but following a yellow by Hood, Shaw took advantage with a score off a feed from Mia Baldinger late in the penalty to re-up the three-goal advantage entering the fourth.
 
Monroe forced a turnover on the Hawks ride early in the quarter, which ultimately led to a score by Shaw. Tommaso registered another save off a free position attempt by the Blazers two minutes later with SUNY New Paltz clearing the other way and earning a free position for Atwater who buried the chance for her third goal of the afternoon to flex her team's lead to 10-5 with nine minutes to go. Hood won the ensuing draw control and capitalized with a goal, but the offense stopped there for the hosts as the Hawks held on for the win with Longo scoring a man-up goal off an assist by Emily Monroe to solidify the 11-6 outcome.
 
SUNY New Paltz held the advantage in shots (24-15, ground balls (14-13), draws (11-9) and clear percentage (.888-.770). Tommaso had a solid day, making six stops in the win. Shaw led the way though for the Hawks, as the All-Region middie totaled four points (three goals, one assist), three ground balls, two caused turnovers and three draw controls. Atwater followed with a three-goal performance. Senior defender Ella Malanga tied Shaw for a team-high two caused turnovers, while Ryder added a goal, an assist and two draw controls.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Monday, facing Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey at 1 p.m.

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