New Paltz, NY — Backed by a stingy performance on the defensive end, the State University of New York at New Paltz won its second-straight SUNYAC game Wednesday after beating visiting Fredonia State, 11-3.
 
The Hawks had trouble finding the back of the net early in the game, but their defense continued anchoring down on each Blue Devils offensive possession and caused 20 turnovers on the day — a season-high — while holding them without a goal until the 10:30 mark of the third quarter. The three goals allowed was a second fewest of the season with freshman goalie Gabby Tommaso also having a strong outing with seven saves in the win.
 
"As a defense, we got into every game looking to keep them under 10 goals and we've been really successful in doing that," said SUNY New Paltz senior defender Ella Malanga. "We were in high pressure. We were flying out and we were picking up ground balls after caused turnovers, so it was a really good showing."
 
The Hawks took a 1-0 lead three minutes into the quarter, stemming off a caused turnover on the defensive end on a good double by Cayci Hill and Alex Coyle with Shannon Brosnan picking up the ground ball and clearing the other way with the Blue Devils hit with a green card on consecutive fouls in transition. SUNY New Paltz capitalized after earning a free position on three second call with Kaitlyn Shaw burying her first of the day.
 
 
Back-to-back defensive stands led to another goal for the Hawks, as Hill forced a turnover with nine minutes left in the quarter with Shaw finding the back of the net to push the score, 2-0. Maddie Gillis found top shelf on a drive three minutes later to bring the cushion to 3-0 by the end of the quarter.
 
Neither team's offense produced any points midway through the second. SUNY New Paltz coach Randy Vite called a timeout with five minutes left regrouping her team on the offensive end, leading to a free position goal by Gillis that brought the lead to 4-0 at halftime.  
After the Blue Devils scored their first of the game, the Hawks countered with three straight goals, started on a heads up play by Camryn Ryder who picked up a ground ball off an initial shot by Alyssa Indelicato, shoveling the put-back into the net for the score. Indelicato then fed Emily Monroe with less than a minute left to bring the lead to 6-1, capping a long offensive possession. Gillis put a stamp on the quarter as she picked a pass on the ride after Mia Baldinger got a stick on the ball to deter the attempt. Gillis then raced downfield and placed in the fast-break goal with a second to spare to up the advantage, 7-1 entering the fourth.
 
SUNY New Paltz took the momentum into the final period, scoring three goals in the matter of two minutes to establish a 10-1 cushion following goals by Baldinger and Shaw.
 
Shaw led the way offensively with four goals on 10 shots with two ground balls and two draw controls. Gillis followed with three goals on seven shots with two ground balls and two caused turnovers. Baldinger added a goal and assist, while totaling two ground balls and one caused turnover. Coyle finished with a career-high five ground balls and tied for a career-high of three caused turnovers. Brosnan led the Hawks with three draw controls, while adding three caused turnovers and two ground balls.
 
SUNY New Paltz improved to 6-3 overall and 2-1 in the SUNYAC with two more conference games on docket next week going on the road to face SUNY Potsdam and Buffalo State.
 
"We've been trying to take each SUNYAC game step-by-step," Malanga said. "Adding another win to our record is building our confidence as an offense and a defense to better prepare ourselves for the next couple games we have in the upcoming weeks in the SUNYAC."

Post-Game Featuring Ella Malanga


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