New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz opened up SUNYAC play against Brockport Saturday and suffered a 13-12 overtime loss.
 
The Hawks fell to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in the SUNYAC, while the Golden Eagles bumped their record to 2-7 and 0-1, respectively.
 
SUNY New Paltz held a four-goal lead with a few seconds left in the third and maintained an 11-8 advantage with about four minutes to go in regulation, but Brockport was adamant of enacting some revenge on last year's matchup where the Hawks won in extra time to clinch a spot in the postseason.
 
The Hawks had an opportunity to spoil the Golden Eagles comeback as they held possession with about 30 seconds left in regulation after a save by Ryan Steinhart and clear, followed by a timeout by coach Dylan Neisler.
 
SUNY New Paltz drew up the correct play and put the ball in the stick of Anthony Senecal who was the hero in last season's overtime thriller. Dodging from behind the cage, he found an open John Reese coming off a pick from Ethan Scully. Reese corralled the pass and fired, but his shot was off the mark with the time expiring and the game tied at 12s.
 
 
Overtime didn't last long, as the Golden Eagles won the ensuing faceoff in a scrum and fired for the goal to earn the win.
 
Brockport out-shot the Hawks, 48-39, including 18-7 in the fourth quarter. SUNY New Paltz was fairly clean with the ball, committing 12 turnovers to the Golden Eagles' 15 but the visitors dominated on the faceoff X, 22-8 and held the advantage in ground balls, 39-19.
 
The two teams traded goals to start the game before Ethan Scully gave the Hawks their first lead with six minutes left in the period. They then rattled off two more on goals from Nate Urban — his first of the season — and Thomas Armetta to end the quarter on a 4-0 run and a 5-2 lead.  
After Brockport got within one five minutes into the second, Armetta answered with a goal after a good defensive stand by the Hawks leading to a shot clock violation. The Golden Eagles won the ensuing faceoff and immediately capitalized to get within one again, but Aiden Jones stacked the difference back to two before the end of the half for SUNY New Paltz.
 
Reese scored back-to-back goals with five minutes to go in the third quarter to help extend his team's lead to 10-6, but the Golden Eagles found the back of the net twice in the final minute to trim the score to 11-8.
 
Ryan Steinhart, who made huge stops all day between the pipes for the Hawks, came up with 11 of his career-high 26 saves in the fourth. He had an impressive stop, getting his stick on a laser headed toward the top left corner, to help in a penalty kill for SUNY New Paltz. However, a dropped pass in the clear allowed Brockport another offensive man-up set, which it took advantage on with a goal to trim the deficit to 11-9.
 
James Flanagan answered though for the Hawks almost immediately, as he worked around the crease, lost his defender and then pinned the inside of the pipe to beat the goalie to push the score to 12-9 with about four minutes left.
 
Following a turnover and a good clear by Brockport it called a timeout and scored out of the break to get within two. The Golden Eagles won the ensuing faceoff with Steinhart making back-to-back saves on attempts, but on the second was hit hard by a shot and was down. The officials kept play on, resulting in a ground ball pickup and an easy open net goal, cutting score 12-11 with two minutes left.
 
Brockport once again earned possession off the faceoff and Steinhart made the initial stop, but the Golden Eagles kept the ball on the follow up and ultimately scored with two minutes left to tie the game at 12-all.
 
Winning the next faceoff as well, Steinhart once again came up big with a save and this time corralled the attempt and cleared the ball the other way allowing SUNY New Paltz to call a timeout and draw up a play. The Hawks got the look they wanted but couldn't find the back of the net resulting in extra time.
 
Flanagan and Armetta were the team's point leaders, totaling four points apiece on two goals, two assists, and three goals, one assist, respectively. Steinhart suffered the loss but had his best statistical outing as he kept his team in it, totaling a career-high 26 saves, which also was the most in single game program history.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to SUNYAC action Saturday when it hits the road to face SUNY Oswego at 1 p.m.


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