Geneseo, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz lost its first SUNYAC game of the season Saturday, falling on the road to Geneseo, 17-8.
 
The Hawks (5-4 overall, 1-1 SUNYAC) were in a two-goal game at the end of the first quarter with Ryan Scully putting SUNY New Paltz up 1-0 within the first two minutes. The Knights countered with three goals to take control before Patrick Harnaga scored his second of the season to cut the lead, 3-2 with six minutes left in the period. Geneseo added another with a minute left before a dominant second quarter broke the game open.
 
The Knights went up 8-2 with about 1:30 left in the half, holding SUNY New Paltz scoreless before Anthony Senecal broke the drought with 45 seconds left following a timeout by Hawks coach Dylan Neisler.
 
Geneseo piled on in the third with a 5-0 run within a three-minute spurt midway through the quarter, which gave the Knights a 10-goal cushion.  
The Hawks suffered 22 turnovers, 10 of which came in the third quarter, while forcing 13 turnovers for the Knights. The hosts held the advantage in shots (55-29), ground balls (32-23) and faceoffs (15-13) and were good on 18-of-20 clears, while SUNY New Paltz was 15-for-23.
 
John Reese led the team offensively with three points on two goals and an assist, while adding two ground balls and a caused turnover. James Flanagan also had three points with a goal and two assists. Matt Brignati had a team-high seven ground balls and was 13-of-26 on faceoffs.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Saturday, hosting SUNY Cortland on South Turf Field at 1 p.m.

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