New Paltz, NY —The State University of New York at New Paltz went on the road to face No. 11 nationally ranked Kean University Wednesday night and despite out-playing the Cougars in the first 30 minutes of action, the Hawks couldn't gain the lead on the hosts and ultimately fell, 2-1 for just its second loss of the season.
 
Kean (6-1 overall) was the second nationally ranked opponent SUNY New Paltz faced thus far, as the team went on the road to take on then No. 21 University of Rochester and losing in strokes after double overtime for its first defeat of the year. On Wednesday, the Hawks were once again up for the challenge as they out-played the opposition in the first half, out-shooting the Cougars 10-6 and totaled four penalty corners to Kean's three.
 
However, despite dominating possession and curating more scoring chances they faced a 1-0 deficit after the first 10 minutes with the Cougars scoring off their first shot on goal, which came off a penalty corner. Kean's Peyton Mann inserted the ball to Laura Stump who put the initial shot on frame, but SUNY New Paltz goalie Gail Comiskey (five saves) came out to make the stop. Mann was there to clean up in front of net though, placing in the rebound for the game's first score.
 
Rachel Tama nearly tied the game in the second quarter, finding the ball in front of cage with eight minutes left in the period, but Kean goalie Jenna Flemings (seven saves) made a nice save to keep the score at 1-0. Two minutes later, Angelina Regels helped the Hawks earn another penalty corner with Miranda Britton inserting to Tama who ripped a shot that went just wide of goal.  
Less than a minute remaining in the half, Hannah Ackerman earned a corner for SUNY New Paltz as her reverse stick on a ball played in hit off a Cougars defender resulting in the ensuing set play. Meghan Gunning inserted the ball to Ackerman who slipped a pass to Tama. The sophomore forward again swung a hard shot toward the left post with Gunning there to get a deflection, but the attempt went over the goal and out of play.
 
Kean held the advantage in the third quarter, quickly coming out and earning a penalty corner less than 30 seconds into the second half, but Sam Moran was there to make the defensive save to keep the difference at one. The Cougars kept the pressure on, however, and eventually capitalized off another corner with seven minutes left in the period, as Mann played the ball to Stump who fired a laser in the back of the net to double the lead at 2-0.
 
Kean kept the momentum going and narrowly held a 3-0 advantage if not for the effort of Moran, who once again came up with a defensive save off a corner to preserve the score.
 
The Cougars garnered back-to-back corners to start the fourth quarter as well, but Moran got her stick on the shot to make another defensive save. Comiskey then came up big with consecutive saves with six minutes left, shifting momentum as SUNY New Paltz transitioned the other way, keeping the ball on its offensive end.

Despite holding possession, the Hawks couldn't take advantage and test Flemings until Morgan Woolley won the ball back, which resulted in a corner thanks to teammate Amanda Quenneville. Woolley was rewarded from the defensive effort, as Britton played the ball into Ackerman who was credited on the assist as Woolley found the pass and netted her first of the season after trimming the score, 2-1.
 
However, the threat stopped there as Kean burned enough time to limit the Hawks' chances on the offensive end, closing out on the one-goal win.
 
The Cougars ended up out-shooting SUNY New Paltz, 18-15 including 12-9 in shots on goal, while also holding the slight edge in penalty corners, 9-7.
 
Tama led the Hawks with seven shots, three on target, followed by Britton, Woolley and Quenneville each with two.
 
Moran had a historic performance as the senior not only set a new single game program record with four defensive saves on the night — the most since Samantha Ackerman who totaled three against Cortland in 2021 — but tied the all-time career record, as her 10 defensive saves through her three seasons tied 2021 alumna Jessica Ascencao, putting herself one away from being the program's all-time defensive save leader.
 
SUNY New Paltz dropped to 6-2 overall with the loss, as it returns to SUNYAC play Saturday traveling to Oswego to take on the Lakers for a 4 p.m. matchup.

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