Geneseo, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz fell to the Geneseo Knights (11-3 overall, 6-1 in conference) Saturday in its final regular season away game. The Hawks (12-3, 4-3) had trouble breaking through the strong Knights defensive line and fell with a final score of 9-6. 

Geneseo scored two consecutive goals in the first few minutes of play. The Hawks' defense halted the following offensive set for the Knights, as SUNY New Paltz was able to force a shot clock violation. However, the ensuing clear failed, and the ball was back in the Knights' possession. Geneseo broke through the Hawks' defense and put in their third goal of the quarter — all three coming within the first five minutes. SUNY New Paltz was unable to answer and the quarter ended with the Knights up 3-0. 

Geneseo continued to extend the lead in the second, scoring two more unanswered goals. SUNY New Paltz did not give up, as it looked much more comfortable to start the quarter on both ends of the field, and surpassed Geneseo in shots taken, ground balls, and clears made by the end of the period.

After an initial draw control for Geneseo, Morgan Woolley caused a turnover on the defensive end, which led to a successful Hawks clear. Morgan Atwater gained possession of the ball, dodged her way through multiple Knights defenders, and found her way to the back of the net as she scored the Hawks' first goal of the game. 

Following a Geneseo green card, SUNY New Paltz had to take advantage of its first man-up opportunity of the game. Kaitlyn Shaw attempted to feed Allison Beattie in the middle of the eight, but the pass went off the stick of Beattie and into the Knights' net, and the errant pass gave Beattie her first of the game which cut the score to 5-2. 
Soon after, the Hawks successfully cleared the ball after a save from Gabriella Tomasso, but the ball came right back after a wide-shot attempt from SUNY New Paltz. Geneseo cleared the ball and fell into an offensive set, which eventually led the Knights to a goal, their sixth of the game. 

In the last minutes of the half, a quick stick from Grace Berardi denied the Knights' free position attempt and kept Geneseo from extending its lead. Shaw then drew a foul on the offensive side for a free-position shot, but struck a post off her attempt. The ball ricocheted into the sticks of Geneseo's defense, but the Knights could not transition the ball in time and the halftime buzzer sounded with a score of 6-2 in the home team's favor. 

A turnover frenzy started the third, and the quarter remained scoreless for almost 10 minutes of play. After a turnover from Geneseo, Shaw got the ball and zipped a pass to Ava Padilla on the backside. Padilla faked and finished to bring the Hawks within three. 

Geneseo responded with a quick goal to extend its lead back to four goals, but not for long, as Mia Baldinger intercepted an attempted Geneseo pass and dished it out to Morgan Atwater who found Padilla. The freshman scored once again to cut the Hawks deficit to three by the end of the third quarter. 

Starting the fourth, Morgan Atwater was fast to score again, as she netted one in the first minute of play, cutting the Knights' lead to the smallest margin since the first quarter. 

While the Knights were looking to respond to Atwater's goal, Aiylin Rutnik put her stick in the passing lane for a crucial interception as the shot clock winded down. Unfortunately, the Hawks could not score on the offensive end, and the opportunity to get within one was lost. 

After not scoring for almost seven minutes, Geneseo took advantage and scored off another man-up opportunity after Lexi Atwater drew her second yellow card, a call that also made her ineligible for the remainder of the game. A turnover on the offensive end gave the Knights the ball again, and they finished on the opposite end, extending their lead to four goals.

Kira Tucker netted a goal late in the fourth off the assist from Shaw, but SUNY New Paltz was too late to swing the game's momentum in its direction. The game ended with a final tally of 9-6 in the home team's favor.

Morgan Atwater led in points with two goals and one assist for the Hawks. Padilla scored two goals and Shaw finished with a team-high three assists and a career-high six ground balls. Woolley and Baldinger held it down defensively with three caused turnovers each. Tommaso collected nine saves in the contest. 

Knights' Alaina Reina, who leads Geneseo in scoring and is third in the SUNYAC in points, went down early in the first. This loss modified the Knights' offense, but Reina still ended the game with the most points for the home team. She led Geneseo with two goals and one assist. 

The Hawks will compete in their final regular game of the season, facing the Oneonta Red Dragons on SUNY New Paltz's home field. The game begins at 4 p.m. 


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