New Paltz, NY — Another box checked.
 
For the first time in program history, the State University of New York at New Paltz earned a win over SUNY Brockport, defeating the visiting Golden Eagles, 11-8 Saturday on North Turf Field.
 
The Hawks improved to a perfect 9-0 on the season, and most importantly, 2-0 in the SUNYAC in a hard-fought battle against a talented Brockport squad, even overcoming a late rally by the Golden Eagles who tied the score at 7-all entering the final 15 minutes.
 
"It was a close game, and we were ready for it," said Hawks coach Randy Vite. "I'm excited that we had ups and downs so we can learn and grow from it, because it was a close game and I'm pumped that we snuck out the win but there was definitely major adjustments and things to learn from. I'm really excited we got to experience that but still come out with the win."
 
SUNY New Paltz dominated on the draw in the first half and found chances on cage with efficient offensive possessions, out-shooting the Golden Eagles, 20-4 while also holding the advantage on the face off X, 11-1, resulting in a 7-4 lead at halftime,
 
Morgan Atwater got the game started, scoring off a good look by Kira Tucker for the initial 1-0 advantage. Brockport answered with back-to-back free position goals, but the second was negated due to an illegal stick, in-turn the game remained tied at ones until four minutes left in the period.
 
Morgan Woolley, who made history herself on the day, as she became the team's new single-season caused turnover leader, helped the Hawks to their second goal of the day as she forced one of her game-high five caused turnovers, which SUNY New Paltz capitalized on in its ensuing offensive set. The Hawks remained patient on offense, moved the ball around with Allison Beattie finding a cutting Lexi Atwater for the score to give her team a 2-1 lead. They tacked on another one minute later, as Mia Baldinger found Kaitlyn Shaw to boost the cushion to 3-1.
 
 
The Golden Eagles got back in with two goals in the final 2 minutes, 45 seconds of the first. A picked pass by Journey Naab then led to a green card by Baldinger, fouling on the ride. Brockport took advantage, earning a shooting space call then scoring on the ensuing free position to get within one. The visitors then scored again after forcing another turnover with a double on Shaw, scoring on a free position opportunity on the other end of the field to tie the score at 3-3.
 
SUNY New Paltz regrouped and owned the second quarter, as Shaw scored after winning the opening draw to re-take the lead for her team. Shaw then assisted Lexi Atwater to push the score to 5-3, taking advantage on a Brockport turnover on the clear. Shaw and Morgan Atwater capped the scoring in the half as they scored back-to-back with four minutes to go in the game.
 
Brockport fought back in the third quarter with the Hawks struggling with fouls. After scoring around the seven-minute mark off a free position, SUNY New Paltz suffered back-to-back yellow cards from Morgan Atwater and Shaw with the Golden Eagles taking advantage with consecutive free position goals. Winning the ensuing draw, Brockport earned another free shot from the hash and tied the score at 7-7 with more than three minutes to go in the quarter.
 
More significantly, SUNY New Paltz suffered a huge loss with their starting defender Amy Whitman going down toward the end of the quarter. The team rallied around its star freshman with senior Grace Berardi moving into her spot in the zone and sophomore Sam Wohlmut stepping in down low. The defense held strong, backed by Gabriella Tommaso between the pipes with the sophomore goalie coming up with a stop on a free position attempt in the final minute to hold onto the tie entering the fourth.
 
Brockport was given a yellow a minute into the final period with Shaw taking advantage as Baldinger fed the two-time All-SUNYAC select for the goal to re-take the lead. The Hawks defense then killed two minutes worth of penalties after Shaw and Baldinger were both hit with green cards shortly after. Lexi Atwater made a play, picking up a ground ball off an errant pass to get another offensive set for her team. Morgan Atwater then got a good look that was blocked on the attempt, but Lexi Atwater won the ball back, picking off a pass on the ride and immediately zipping a feed to an open Ava Padilla in front of goal for the quick score, pushing the advantage, 9-7.
 
After Morgan Atwater scored another on a drive, the Golden Eagles called a timeout to regroup. They scored out of the break off a draw win and free position attempt.
 
Wohlmut then came up with a huge play on the defensive end with about eight minutes to go, batting down a pass by Tristan Davis, then picking up the ground ball and clearing, leading to a goal on a nifty find from Morgan Atwater to twin sister Lexi to push the score to 11-8 with about seven minutes to go.
 
Both teams were out their top players with Morgan Atwater and Naab both handed second yellows with six minutes to go in the game. Brockport managed consecutive free position opportunities after the card, but the Hawks defense came through to get a stick on the first attempt and then Tommaso came up with a huge stuff on the next to keep the three-goal lead.
 
Alayna Foos forced a turnover on a back check for Brockport, which allowed them a timeout with about three minutes left. It settled on offense after clearing the ball following the break and worked into its offensive set, but SUNY New Paltz continued locking in defensively. Woolley made a huge play with a back check on the Golden Eagles' Cassidy Burnash, forcing the turnover and then again was there with 1:30 left for another caused turnover as Brockport looked to tighten the deficit. With one minute remaining, Tommaso came up with another huge save off a free position attempt getting her stick on a shot to all but seal the win.
 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by New Paltz Hawks (@newpaltzhawks)

 
"There were quite a few players that were absolute game changers for us at different points of the game," Vite said. "Gabby at the end of the game absolutely sealed the deal for us. Lexi was so good, even just her hustle and grit, and I think Morgan Atwater put in a few huge driving goals when we needed."
 
Tommaso finished with seven saves in one of best performances on the year. Shaw was the team's point-leader with six on four goals and two assists with a ground ball and four draw controls. Lexi Atwater followed with three goals, an assist, a team-high five ground balls, two caused turnovers and a team-high seven draws. Morgan Atwater added three goals and one assist with two ground balls and two draw controls. Woolley etched her name in the program record books while also totaling a game-high five caused turnovers.
 
"She's been huge up top," said Vite of her senior and second-year player Woolley. "She's so athletic. She's come up with huge caused turnovers. She causes chaos up there and she does come up with huge back checks in huge moments. It's been so fun to watch her grow in lacrosse because she's just a natural and she's so fun to coach because she is so coachable."
 
Overall, SUNY New Paltz out-played the Golden Eagles. It totaled 32 shots to Brockport's 17, had 20 turnovers to the visitors 23 — 11 of which were caused. The Hawks cleared the ball well, going 22-for-25, while the Golden Eagles went 15-for-19, and picked up more ground balls (20-18) and collected more draw controls (16-7).
 
The win matches the most in program history (9), tying last year's win total. While the victory over Brockport is a program first as the team earned some vindication after the Golden Eagles knocked them out of playoff contention last season.
 
However, throughout the emotional win and historic start, the Hawks aren't yet satisfied. More boxes need to still be checked as they enter two more SUNYAC contests next week on the road at Plattsburgh and Fredonia.
 
"We haven't really achieved what our ultimate goals are of this season and there's still a long way to go," Vite said. "We have been excited and happy that we have been playing so well because they have. They have been performing really well so it's exciting… game by game we need to continue to check boxes and we need to continue to get better, because there's a lot to learn from this game. This is a great win and I'm so proud but there's a lot to learn from it too."
 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ethan Scully (@scully.shots)

 
***********
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.