New Paltz, NY — In its SUNYAC home opener Wednesday, the State University of New York New Paltz outlasted the visiting Potsdam Bears, 2-1.
The Hawks earn their first conference win following a near-victory over Cortland Saturday, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Against Potsdam, SUNY New Paltz was about to meet the same fate, as more than half the match was played locked in a 1-1 tie. Fortunately, freshman
Ryan Zindler came in clutch and knocked in a late game goal to elevate the Hawks over the Bears, 2-1.
"We just knew we had to have the same mentality we had with Cortland and it wasn't going to be easy," Zindler said. "Any game in the SUNYAC could go either way, any team is a battle. It could be the lowest-record team and they could give us the best fight."
Both teams began the game with intensity, as numerous fouls were handed out in the first 45, which included a yellow card against the Bears in the 11th minute. Despite the chippy start, the Hawks pulled through offensively.
Two minutes after Potsdam's yellow,
Brandon Dhanoolal drew another foul in the Hawks' offensive third, which gave him a free kick opportunity. An on-target attempt, Dhanoolal's strike looked good until it ricocheted off a Potsdam defender's head, and went out of bounds.
SUNY New Paltz gained a corner kick off the play, which
Brian Boylan took and sent into the middle of the box. Defender
Owen McGarrity was positioned perfectly in the six, and the graduate student headed in the cross for his first goal of the season, and the Hawks' first of the game. However, it wasn't long before the Bears retaliated.
Less than five minutes after SUNY New Paltz's goal, Potsdam gained a corner kick themselves, eager to score on the opportunity. A short ball was played, which a Bears' forward tapped towards the Hawks' net. Within the chaos of the 18, the shot trickled its way into the back corner of the goal, which tied the score 1-1.
SUNY New Paltz was determined to not let Potsdam get the upper hand, demonstrated through its defensive efforts throughout the remainder of the first. In the 26th minute, keeper
Christian Micheli had a diving stop to keep the score tied. Similar to their first goal, the Bears had a near-shot opportunity off a corner in the 34th minute. The Bears were denied, however, by a paramount offsides call forced by the Hawks' backline.
By the end of the period, neither team could net a goal, and the score remained tied. The Hawks, however, were ready to step it up in the second.
Gallery: (10-2-2024) Men's Soccer vs. Potsdam 10/2/24
"We came out the first half and didn't give our best, but [we] turned it around the second half," said Zindler.
SUNY New Paltz produced more solid set pieces throughout the second, but none more on point than the one which gave the Hawks the lead they were vying for. They earned another corner in the 68th minute, which
Riley Tait lined up to take. The sophomore sent the ball over to the far post, right to where Zindler waited.
"The second goal, we had been working on this play from the corner for a while now I saw the ball whistling to the back post and I headed it," Zindler said. "I honestly didn't know if it was in until everyone started pushing me and celebrating — it felt great."
Zindler's clutch goal gave SUNY New Paltz the lead in the 70th minute, and with only 20 minutes left of play, Potsdam did not have enough time to respond. The Bears had only one more shot attempt before time ran out, and the buzzer sounded with the Hawks victorious, 2-1.
McGarrity and Zindler were SUNY New Paltz's sole goal scorers, with Zindler having two shots on goal total. Dhanoolal also attempted three shots, all on net. Micheli had three saves on five shots faced.
SUNY New Paltz go on the road Saturday for the long journey out to Fredonia. The match begins at 1 p.m.
Post-Game Featuring Ryan Zindler (video by Kaite Wilson)
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