Beverly, MA — The State University of New York New Paltz traveled to Beverly, Massachusetts to face perennial program Endicott College.
 
Through their young season thus far, the Hawks were carried by their explosive offense and on Saturday, it was no different. SUNY New Paltz out-scored the Gulls, 5-4 to earn the win and remain undefeated on the season after improving to 5-0.
 
Miranda Britton got the game started with a goal in the eighth minute, putting away a rebound off an initial shot from teammate Rachel Tama. However, the lead was short lived, as the hosts answered a minute later after registering back-to-back corners. SUNY New Paltz goalie Gail Comiskey came up with consecutive shots, but the defense couldn't clear in front of goal and in turn, the Gulls broke through with their first of the day to knot the score at 1-1.  
 
The Hawks responded before quarter's end, earning a corner with two minutes left in the period. Meghan Gunning inserted a pass to Hannah Ackerman who found Tama. Tama ripped her shot that found the back of the net for her sixth of the season to re-up the lead, 2-1 entering the second quarter.
 
The momentum shifted toward SUNY New Paltz, and the visitors quickly added to its cushion less than a minute into the period. Britton was persistent in front of the cage and found her own rebound for another goal.  
Endicott was given life after being awarded a penalty stroke in the 19th minute. It put away the attempt to get within one and soon after, tied the score at 3-3 following a penalty corner. The Gulls built off the run and kept the Hawks on their heels, firing back-to-back shots on Comiskey before earning another corner. They again capitalized, taking their first lead of the day at 4-3 with six minutes to go in the half.
 
SUNY New Paltz was adamant at adding another before quarter's end. It earned a penalty corner that was played in by Britton. Tama fired another shot on goal, which was initially saved but the Hawks kept possession inside the circle, long enough for Morgan Woolley to come through to score her first of the season to create another stalemate.
 
Starting off the opening whistle strong once again, SUNY New Paltz grabbed the lead one final time. The Hawks worked the ball into the circle with Britton the benefactor, finding consecutive looks on cage before earning a corner. She played in the ensuing set play into Tama who netted her second of the day with Britton there on the assist.
 
The goal was pivotal as neither team found the back of the net for the rest of the 20 minutes remaining. SUNY New Paltz's defense held firm the rest of the period with Comiskey coming up with two more stops in the stanza. The fourth quarter was then dominated by the Hawks who generated four penalty corners and nine shots in the final 15 minutes before securing the 5-4 win.
 
SUNY New Paltz out-shot Endicott, 29-19, including 21-13 in shots on target and held the advantage, 18-5 in the second half. The Hawks also tallied more corners than the Gulls (11-9) with eight coming in the final 30 minutes half alone.
 
Britton led the team with nine shots, eight of which were on goal as she finished with two goals and an assist. Tama followed with seven shots, four on goal, with two goals and an assist as well. Woolley had three shots with a goal scored, while Ackerman tallied six shots and two assists. Comiskey, meanwhile, ended with nine saves.
 
SUNY New Paltz looks to keep its record unblemished, as it travels to Hoboken, NJ Wednesday to face No. 25 Stevens.


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