New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz improved to 12-0 on the season after comfortably handling the visiting Potsdam Bears Wednesday on North Turf Field, 21-3.
 
The Hawks (12-0, 4-0) had a running clock before the end of the first quarter as they rattled off 10 goals in the first 15 minutes. They wasted no time either, scoring three in the opening two minutes after winning three consecutive draws, which led to scores on each offensive possession.
 
SUNY New Paltz spread its offense around early, as Kira Tucker opened up the scoring for the Hawks before Lexi Atwater followed with a free position goal. Baldinger then scored her first of the day off a feed from Ava Padilla. Kaitlyn Shaw extended the lead to 4-0 with about 11 minutes to go in the period, leading to a timeout by the Bears. Morgan Atwater won the ensuing draw control out of the break, which resulted in another score from Baldinger.
 
Lexi Atwater won the next draw and then found the back of the net to register her second. Potsdam came up with the ensuing possession, but Grace Berardi forced a turnover on the defensive end, which led to a SUNY New Paltz goal by Shaw to fatten the cushion to 7-0.
 
 
The Hawks defense continued making plays to help build upon their already hefty lead. Francesca Corozzo got off a back check to create a turnover and picked up the ground ball, pushing the other way to start her team on the break. She found Padilla who then fed Atwater on a 2-v-1. Atwater moved Bears goalie Jane Olszewski and beat her low for her third of the day.    
SUNY New Paltz earned a man-up opportunity as Potsdam was hit with a green card after a foul in the midfield. The Hawks took advantage with three seconds to spare on the one-minute penalty, as Baldinger created a turnover in transition with a successful back check of her own. Atwater was there to pick up the ground ball at midfield and pushed the other way for the fast break. She lost a defender with a stutter step before dishing off to an open Padilla in front of cage for the goal.

Samantha DeLucca put the finishing touches on the first quarter, as she caught and finished inside off a pass from Padilla at X to create a 10-0 advantage with about a minute left in the period.
 
The Bears scored off a free position to start the second quarter, but SUNY New Paltz answered with three goals in the final five minutes of the half to go up, 13-1 at the break. Potsdam scored man-up goals in the third to cap its offensive out-put with the Hawks taking a 16-3 lead entering the fourth. The hosts added five more in a commanding final quarter to solidify the 21-3 victory.
 
The final statistics were skewed toward SUNY New Paltz which dominated from start to finish in a quick hour and a half win. the Hawks out-shot the Bears, 40-10, while forcing 27 turnovers and committing just 11 of their own. They picked up more ground balls, 28-10, had more draw controls (17-11) and were more successful on clears, going 19-for-20, while Potsdam went 10-for-19.
 
Ten different Hawks registered a point in the game, including freshman Helena Willis who scored her first career goal which came midway through the third quarter. Lexi Atwater led all scorers with six goals and two assists, while totaling a team-leading five draw controls with five ground balls and two caused turnovers. Padilla followed with two goals and five assists with Baldinger adding three goals and three assists.
 
Corozzo led the team defensively with a career-high six ground balls and four caused turnovers. Morgan Woolley followed with five ground balls and four caused turnovers. Gabriella Tomaso earned the win in goal after making three saves in 30 minutes of action.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to North Turf Field Saturday for a pivotal matchup against SUNY Oswego at 3 p.m. The Hawks will honor its senior class prior to the game.
 

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