New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz opened up the 2023 season with a 2-0 win over visiting St. Lawrence University Friday on North Turf Field.
 
Meghan Gunning, getting her first career start for the Hawks, had the best game of her career and was key in helping her team to a one goal lead in the third quarter and later putting in an insurance goal late in the fourth to help seal the two-goal shutout.
 
"After a long preseason and a bunch of scrimmages it feels great to get our first win on our field, start off the whole season great and continue working from here," said Gunning who was a part of both goals for her team on the afternoon.
 
SUNY New Paltz picked up its play in the second quarter and nearly took the lead after earning three-straight corners with the final leading to a shot by Rachel Tama, which hit the outside of the pipe and ricocheted away.
 
 
Although the Hawks didn't capitalize offensively, they continued to keep the Saints on their heels, not allowing them to cross into their offensive third of the field until more than midway through the period. They out-shot St. Lawrence, 14-2 in the second and totaled nine penalty corners, but headed into halftime still at a stalemate.  
SUNY New Paltz continued dominating in the second half and again out-shot the Saints, 13-1. However, the lone shot narrowly put the Hawks at a deficit if it wasn't for the smart play on a one-v-one by goalie Gail Comiskey, stepping up to make the stop on a breakaway against St. Lawrence's Caroline Hamilton with Madeline Meyer helping clean up, clearing the ball away.
 
The stop proved crucial, as the Hawks transitioned toward the offensive end and soon earned their TK corner of the game. Miranda Britton inputted the ensuing set play with Tama getting a good look, but a defensive stop by Suzanne L'Hommediu kept the scroeless draw until Gunning found the loose ball and played it back toward goal, leading to a tap in by Amanda Quenneville to give SUNY New Paltz a much deserved one goal lead with just more than two minutes remaining in the period.
 
"It was great to get the initial lead. We finally settled in and we got all the kinks out and it was just great to build from there, and everyone was having a great time on the field," Gunning said.
 
SUNY New Paltz earned a corner to start the fourth quarter with Britton inputting to Tama who swung for an attempt on cage. The Saints' Lucy Adiutori made the save, but St. Lawrence were unable to clear its circle and eventually the Hawks earned another corner. Britton played another clean ball in, leading to a shot by Tama, which was again saved by Adiutori, but Gunning kept with the play, worked the ball to her stick and put-away the second chance opportunity to record her first career goal and a career-high three points to conclude a standout performance in her first career start.
 
"It was great to get the initial lead. We finally settled in and we got all the kinks out and it was just great to build from there, and everyone was having a great time on the field," she said. "It was definitely a memorable game for me — first goal, first start. It was great."
 
The Hawks ultimately out-shot the Saints, 39-7, including 30-6 on target, while totaling 13 corners to St. Lawrence's three. Tama recorded a game-high 11 shots, followed by Quenneville with 10, while Comiskey finished with six saves in the win.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Saturday at 4 p.m., facing Utica College on day two of its home tournament on North Turf Field.

Post-Game Interview with Meghan Gunning


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