New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz rolled to its sixth-straight win Saturday with a comfortable 19-8 victory over visiting Maritime to improve to 6-0 on the year, the best start in program history.
 
The Hawks remained undefeated at 6-0, while handing the Privateers their first loss of the season, as they dropped to 3-1.
 
The perfect 6-0 start surpassed the previous best start in program history of 5-0, which came during the 2011 season. During SUNY New Paltz's winning streak, the Hawks have out-scored their opposition 95-33, averaging nearly16 goals per game, while yielding less than six against, and totaling 62 assists already on the season — in comparison, that is 20 more than their first six games of their 2023 campaign.
 
The trend continued Saturday, as SUNY New Paltz tallied 14 assists off 19 of its goals with Mia Baldinger once again the facilitator as she totaled a team-leading six assists, tying a career-high and finishing one shy of tying the single-game program record. Kaitlyn Shaw, meanwhile, had another signature game as the senior recorded five goals and four assists for a career-high nine points, one shy of tying the program's single-game record. Lexi Atwater and Morgan Atwater combined for 12 goals with the twins both reaching career-highs in goals with six apiece.
 
Morgan Atwater gave SUNY New Paltz the initial lead after scoring off a nice feed from Baldinger who found Atwater on the second cut inside. Maritime tied the game off a free position goal, earning center hash following a foul. Morgan Atwater re-upped the lead though for her team, getting on the far hash after forcing a shooting space and capitalizing on the ensuing free attempt. The Privateers tied the score one last time on another free position goal, but the Hawks countered with five straight goals to end the quarter.
 
 
Gabriella Tommaso made a momentum-shifting save to preserve what was a 4-3 SUNY New Paltz lead with more than seven minutes left. She made the initial stop on a free position opportunity then stuffed the rebound attempt with the Hawks then opening the game up in the last five minutes with goals by Morgan Atwater, Kaitlyn Shaw and Lexi Atwater to bring the cushion to 8-3 entering the second quarter.  
Following a draw control win from Morgan Atwater to Lexi Atawater, Lexi scored on a cut off a zip of a feed from Baldinger to push the advantage to six. The Privateers scored two quick goals following draw wins and coach Randy Vite immediately called a timeout to regroup her team and stall the visitor's momentum. In turn, SUNY New Paltz ripped off five unanswered once again to end the period and took a 14-5 lead at halftime.
 
Baldinger found Morgan Atwater once again for a score to officially force a running clock and SUNY New Paltz cruised from there, earning a 17-6 lead by quarter's end and holding on for the eventual, 11-point victory.
 
SUNY New Paltz dominated on the stat sheet, totaling more shots (41-9), ground balls (24-11), draw controls (20-10), while winning the turnover battle (9-20), as it registered 15 caused turnovers. Baldinger and Lexi Atwater led the team in the category with three apiece, while the latter joined teammates Amy Whitman and Francesca Corozzo with a game-high four ground balls.
 
SUNY New Paltz hopes to extend its winning streak Wednesday when they head back out onto North Turf Field to host Manhattanville College at 3 p.m.


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