Potsdam, NY — In runaway fashion, the State University of New York New Paltz shut out the Potsdam Bears Wednesday. The Hawks could not be stopped offensively as they routed the hosts 5-0. 

"While we felt confident going into today's game, our main focus was staying true to our process, and making sure we showcased what we worked on in training this week," said SUNY New Paltz senior captain Rachel Eisert. "A 5-0 win always feels good but I think this group will continue to play with a chip on our shoulder while we continue into SUNYAC play." 

After they regained possession from the Bears from the kickoff, the Hawks pushed upfield. Alexis DeLeo controlled and ripped a shot from 30 yards out, which the Bears keeper deflected. However, Brooke Kelleher wasn't far behind and followed through on the ricocheted ball, but the keeper brought in the close-range attempt. 

However, SUNY New Paltz finally connected in the 13th minute when DeLeo corralled a loose ball off a goal kick by Potsdam in open space before finding Kelleher up the right side. DeLeo dished a beautiful pass which Kelleher then sent to Eisert, who took the opportunity and finessed around the Bears defenders in front of her. Eisert ripped a lefty strike from outside the box, which found the top right bin of the cage for her team's first goal of the game. 

But Eisert wasn't finished yet.

Only two minutes later, the Hawks garnered a corner kick. SUNY New Paltz stacked on the far side of the subsequent corner, a sequence carried out game after game, that set up Eisert for the perfect header opportunity. And this time, the senior came through, as she connected perfectly to put the ball in the back of the net of the cross sent in by DeLeo.

"It was very fulfilling to see the patience and creativeness that we played with today," said Eisert. "Being composed to finish our chances in the final third was very rewarding." 

Although the 5-0 outcome was the same score as in 2023, Wednesday's result marked the first time the Hawks defeated Potsdam on the road by a three-point margin or more.

In the 29th minute, after a series of on-point ball movement by SUNY New Paltz, Emma Voege found a clear path up to Kennedy Jones who broke free from her defenders and netted a sliding lefty shot, which went into the back right corner of the net. It was both Jones' first career goal as a Hawk and the third of the game with the point giving the Hawks a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into halftime, as no other goal was scored with the remaining time in the first. 

"I thought we were tactically sound in our attack while in transition, in possession, and in the final third," said SUNY New Paltz coach Mike Eckberg. "We did well to avoid senseless penetrating passes when we were numbers down in transition"

Back on the circle, cold rain came down on the Maxcy Turf field to start the second half. But the inclement weather did not stop the Hawks from soaring. 

Only six minutes into the second, Gaby Treble was shoved over in the box, a foul which called the senior up to the penalty spot. Treble lodged the shot into the bottom right corner of the net, which stopped the Potsdam keeper in her tracks, while Treble elevated SUNY New Paltz's lead to 4-0. 

A quiet 20 minutes ensued, but the scoring stalemate was once again broken by the visitors. Laney Schmitz possessed a loose corner kick in the 18-yard box, which deflected off a Bears defender and into the junior's feet. Schmitz chipped the ball over the Potsdam keeper for the Hawks' fifth and final goal of the match. The Bears were unable to get a solid shot off, and the game ended with the hosts shut out, 5-0. 

Eisert led the offensive crusade, as the senior tallied two goals and seven shots with five of them on net. Schmitz and Jones had one goal a piece, while Treble tacked on her sole penalty kick. Voege, DeLeo, and Kelleher had one assist each. Freshman Jess Centeri and senior Maddie Franklin split time in goal, having earned three saves and one save, respectively. 

SUNY New Paltz made continuous substitutions throughout the second half, including a keeper change to put in Centeri, who garnered her greatest amount of career minutes against the Bears (45). In total, nine Hawks played their most minutes of the season against Potsdam. 

"Every opponent creates different challenges in different environments," Eckberg said. "Our maturity to read and grow into the game and throughout 90 minutes reflects this group's mentality to pursue excellence."

"We are looking forward to building on today's game and using it to keep striving for the next level as a team," added Eisert. 

The Hawks are back in action Saturday for their Green Out Game against Fredonia. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. 

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