New Paltz, NY — Brooke Kelleher scored two goals and the State University of New York at New Paltz collected a 2-0 shutout Friday over Sage to open up 2023.
 
The Hawks didn't have their best outing, but still made sure to come away with three points after earning a much-needed goal in the 51st minute with Kelleher chipping Gators goalie Olivia Horan.
 
"It shows a lot of the team. It shows that we have grit and even if we're not having exactly what we want on the field, we can achieve it and get an outcome that we want," Kelleher said. "Every game we have to keep getting better and the way that we do that is working hard at practice and giving 110 no matter what it is — practice, team meetings, lift, pool. You have to just keep going after everything, so that we can perform the way we want to in games."
   
SUNY New Paltz had a stronger second half and created multiple opportunities, but Horan came up with big stops, including a pair on Hawks forward Rachel Eisert who nearly saw a pair of scores if not for the quick hands by Horan.
 
The best opportunity for Sage came in the 75th minute with the Hawks holding onto a one-goal advantage, as they created chaos with a ball played into the box. SUNY New Paltz goalie Maddie Franklin came out, cut off the angle and made an impressive foot-save in a tight space in traffic to keep the shutout for her team.
Kelleher then added one last insurance goal 10 minutes later, running onto a beautifully layered ball through by Eisert. Kelleher burned two defenders and met the ball just inside the box with Horan coming off her line to disrupt the pending one-v-one. Kelleher showed her quality in the finish, chipping Horan perfectly for the second time to seal the 2-0 win for her side.
 
"When the ball is going towards the 18 [yard box], I just go after every ball because you never know what's going to happen," Kelleher said. "Every ball that goes into the 18 is at 50-50 ball and the way that you win games is getting on the end of each 50-50."
 
SUNY New Paltz ultimately out-shot Sage, 11-8 in the game, including 9-3 looks on frame. Gaby Treble led the way with three shots, followed by Kelleher and Eisert with two. Hannah Wellinger and Franklin were the only two Hawks to play the full 90 with Franklin finishing with two saves.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Sunday when it faces RPI at 4 p.m.

Post-Game Featuring Brooke Kelleher


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