Newport News, VA — The State University of New York New Paltz traveled down to Newport News, Virginia to face No. 5 nationally ranked Christopher Newport University for the first time in program history.
 
The No. 18 Hawks let up four goals early, but shutout the Captains from there. However, they couldn't generate enough offense to complete the comeback and fell, 4-2.
 
All four goals Christopher Newport scored came in the first quarter, as it took 63 seconds before the Captains found the back of the net on their first shot of the game. The hosts earned a corner straight off the re-start and although Gail Comiskey earned the initial save off the shot on the ensuing set play, Christopher Newport captured the rebound and knocked in its second and held a 2-0 lead just two minutes into the game.
 
The Captains third goal came off a stroke in the 10th minute before they capped their offensive day with three minutes left in the quarter, scoring off another corner to take a 4-0 advantage into the second period.
 
Facing a tough 4-0 deficit, SUNY New Paltz coach Shanna Szablinski opted to make a change in goal and subbed Comiskey for backup Madison Orsini. The sophomore answered with a shutout through 45 minutes to go along with a career-high 13 saves on 24 shots faced to allow her team to get back into the game.
 
The Hawks worked their way back in, scoring their first of the game in the second period. Earning back-to-back corners, Meghan Gunning inserted to senior Hannah Ackerman who fired a shot through traffic for her fourth goal of the season, cutting the score to 4-1 with eight minutes to go in the half.
 
SUNY New Paltz built off the momentum and had a surge in the 27th minute, firing three-straight shots on target while earning a penalty corner in the stretch. Miranda Britton inserted with Maya O'Keefe finding the loose ball and slotting in a shot that went wide of target as the difference remained at three by halftime.  
Orsini was tested early into the second half, making back-to-back saves within seconds of the third quarter whistle. Orsini and the Hawks' defense withstood the pressure and after clearing, the offense came through with another score. Rachel Tama tallied a shot on target that was saved, but the visitors quickly earned another corner. Gunning inserted to Tama who fired a shot on cage which was saved again, but Morgan Woolley was there to clean up and score her third of the season to cut the deficit in half, 4-2 just two minutes into the period.
 
Both teams were left scoreless for the last 28 minutes of action, resulting in the 4-2 outcome. The Captains held the advantage in shots, 32-21, and shots on target, 20-13, while generating 17 penalty corners to the Hawks' nine.
 
Tama led all players with 10 shots, six of which were on goal. Ackerman and O'Keefe followed with three apiece. Sophia Bronzi and Madelyn Graves each had a defensive save for the visitors.
 
SUNY New Paltz's six-game winning streak came to an end following the defeat as it dropped to 12-2 overall with both losses coming on the road against top 10 programs in Christopher Newport and No. 10 Bryn Mawr College. The Captains, meanwhile, improve to 10-1 overall with their only loss coming in a two-goal game against No. 2 Salisbury University Wednesday.
 
The Hawks get back on the road for their next matchup, traveling to face Montclair State University Tuesday before returning to SUNYAC play on the road against No. 8 SUNY Cortland.
 

******************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.