Newburgh, NY — Nothing but dominance in a record-setting afternoon for the State University of New York at New Paltz over hosting Mount Saint Mary's College Saturday.
 
The Hawks (3-0 overall) didn't let the rain damper the momentum they held entering the matchup, coming away with two hard-fought road victories over Utica and Hartwick College. However, Saturday's competition was never close at any point with SUNY New Paltz setting the tone early, jumping out to a quick 13-0 first half advantage to propel a 21-2 rout of the Knights.
 
The two goals given up was the second least in program history, tying last year's 18-2 outcome against the same MSMC team, the fewest since a 14-0 shutout over SUNY Poly back in 2009.
 
Compiled with the onslaught was a variety of career performances, none bigger than Morgan Atwater who finished with four goals, one assist, five points, three caused turnovers, three draw controls and a program-setting 10 ground balls. Lexi Atwater, meanwhile, set a career high with six goals to go along with three ground balls, one caused turnover, while tying a program-record 11 draw controls.
 
"Our goal coming into this game was to get better from our last two games and make those adjustments," said SUNY New Paltz coach Randy Vite. "We came out focused and I wanted to play really pretty lacrosse. I didn't want us forcing it, I wanted us to move the ball and I wanted to correct mistakes from our first two games. I think they came out focused and disciplined and we executed. It was a major team win. everyone played really well. It was also terrible weather, and they didn't let the weather affect them."
 
The Hawks dominated on the draw circle, thanks to precision draw taking by Morgan Atwater placing it for her sister Lexi nearly every take. Winning the opening possession, SUNY New Paltz was patient on its first offensive set, ripping three shots on goal, one hitting pipe with Morgan Atwater finally getting her team on the board as she finished on a drive about 65 seconds into the game.  
Lexi Atwater picked up the ensuing draw control and was the benefactor down on the offensive end, finishing on a feed from Ava Padilla at X. Lexi Atwater again found the back of the net on another beautiful pass from Padilla on the slow break off the draw, with Atwater quick-sticking her shot off stick side for her second of the day.
 
The Hawks were up 4-0 before the Knights even had their first offensive set, which came around the 12-minute mark of the first quarter. The threat didn't last long, however, as Morgan Atwater came up with the defensive play on a batted pass to get her team back the ball, which resulted in a goal by Mia Baldinger off a dish from Lexi Atwater.
 
SUNY New Paltz ended the period up, 8-0 and then had a running clock with nearly 13 minutes left in the second quarter after Baldinger pushed the score to 10-0 early in the period. The Hawks then tacked on three more to take a 13-0 lead at the break and extended to 19-0 in the third before MSMC registered its first of the day with 12:30 left in the fourth.
 
Samantha DeLucca answered almost immediately for the Hawks, scoring her second career goal with Baldinger helping out on the assist. Kira Tucker then capped the scoring for SUNY New Paltz registering her first of the season on another assist from Baldinger.
 
Baldinger finished with a team- and career-high eight points with two goals and six assists, which tied for third most in program history. Her six assists were tied for second most ever. Kaitlyn Shaw added six goals and became the first in program history to register six-plus six-goal games in their career for the Hawks. Padilla finished with a career-high five assists and seven ground balls with the latter placing her tied for third-most in single-game program history with the former tied for third most.
 
Gabriella Tommaso earned the win and pitched a shutout in 45 minutes play, making three stops.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to the field Wednesday in its home opener against Kean University on North Turf Field at 3 p.m.


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