New Paltz, NY — For the first time on its home turf, the State University of New York New Paltz faced Montclair State University at home. In the meeting, SUNY New Paltz tied the Red Hawks in a tense 1-1 battle. 

"Montclair is a phenomenal program, an NCAA tournament team year in and year out," said Hawks coach Mike Eckberg. "They are very difficult to defend and they present a lot of different problems, [but] It felt like we had a true commitment to defend as a team today." 

The Hawks scored their sole goal in the 51st minute and held on to the 1-0 lead until Montclair was able to net one late in the contest, approaching the 85th minute. However, the low-scoring final score does not reflect the action-packed game. 

"We went into this game knowing they were going to be a tough opponent and we were going to have to be all in from start to finish and I think our team did just that," said SUNY New Paltz senior midfielder Alexis DeLeo. "From the back line to the forward line, everyone knew their role today and committed to every individual and team battle that we faced in those 90 minutes."

The Red Hawks got their first opportunity at net when a late whistle in the Hawks' defensive third led to free kick in the 12th minute with the visitors ensuing attempt missing wide left. On the other end, an offsides call in the 13th minute ended a fast break attempt from Parris Burke off a ball from Gaby Treble, SUNY New Paltz's first offensive pursuit as well. 

Montclair had another threatening set piece in the 15th minute, but again missed the goal wide. A minute later, Rachel Eisert was fouled just outside the 18-yard box, leading to a free kick from DeLeo which connected with Eisert inside for a header, but it missed right. The ball was played in again, again to Eisert, but it was saved by the Montclair keeper. On the clear, the Red Hawks streaked up the field for another look on frame, but Maddie Franklin came up clutch with a diving save to keep the game tied. 
 

In 20th minute, Franklin rushed out of net to stop another potential scoring play. Transitioning to the other end, SUNY New Paltz earned a throw in opportunity close to the Montclair goal in the 23rd minute which was another chance for Hawks' offense, but no one could get a solid touch on the throw-in and could not finish. 

Soon after, in arguably the most important defensive moment of the first half, Franklin came up with a double save in the 28th minute, deflecting a hard shot and rebound by the Red Hawks. 
"Her instincts today were fantastic," said Eckberg, speaking on Franklin. "She made four or five different game-saving saves, and that's what you would want and expect out of an All-Conference goalkeeper, to step up in big moments like she did today."

With one minute remaining in the first, SUNY New Paltz gained a corner kick, but could not get a clear shot on net, which marked the last offensive opportunity of the half for both teams. The buzzer sounded, still locked in a goalless tie. 

Right at the kickoff to start the second, the Red Hawks had a step on the Hawks and got a solid look, but could not place the shot on goal. Only three minutes later, the visitors got another chance on net, but they were stopped by Franklin, who caught the ball in the center of the goal.

SUNY New Paltz finally struck the first points of the game in the 51st. A ball was played to Rachel Eisert down the right flank with the senior beating her defender before laying off a pass centrally to Brooke Kelleher who chipped a pass over to Deleo. DeLeo one-timed the attempt cleanly into the back of the net for her first of the year. Eisert was awarded a second assist for the goal, which increased her all-time assist count to 14, tying the program record.

"I felt like there was an energy shift once we put one in the back of the net," DeLeo said. "Brooke played such a great ball and Rachel went on such a good attack to create the goal. If it wasn't for those moments I wouldn't have been able to finish, but I think we all felt that the job wasn't finished and we couldn't settle yet, because we were hungry and we wanted another goal."

Montclair had a chance in the 55th minute to retaliate as the ball was knocked around in their offensive third, but they could not finish against the Hawks' strong backline. Their next opportunity came in the 63rd minute, as they attempted to curve a corner in, but missed behind the post out of bounds. 

In the 72nd minute, Franklin had another sensational diving save to deny the Red Hawks a goal. Despite Montclair earning a corner kick immediately after, the Hawks defensive line stood strong and cleared the ball out of the defensive zone. Three minutes later, the Red Hawks executed a solid set piece, and a cross was sent from right field to the far post, but could not connect with net. Two minutes later, Montclair had a head-on shot, but Franklin tracked it for yet another diving save. 
In a defensive frenzy, in the 83rd minute Erin Savarese blocked a close straight on shot from the Red Hawks, followed by Franklin who smothered the ball to stop the play, preserving the Hawks' 1-0 lead. 

Following a clear from their keeper in the 84th minute, Montclair took the ball up the right side of the field, dribbling to the corner and crossing to center field. A Red Hawk striker came through and connected with the pass, netting the ball and tying the game 1-1.

With limited time left, neither team could conjure up a successful set piece, and the tie remained until the end of the game, the final score reading 1-1. 

"I think we were all upset to give up a goal in the last five [minutes] to make it a 1-1 game," said DeLeo. "Our team is focusing on working back in transition and staying with our marks in the run of play so things like that won't happen. I think it's also important that we maximize on the opportunities in every game, and I think we did just that today with the small chances we did get. We were accurate and made it a battle for them defensively."

Franklin finished with eight saves on 19 shots faced. This statistic ties her second career-high, just trailing her 11 saves against Brockport in 2022. DeLeo ended with one goal, followed by Eisert and Kelleher who coined an assist each. 

Despite the tie, this game was an important contest, as Montclair is receiving votes for the top 25 Division Three Women's Soccer Polls. Going into the rest of the season, SUNY New Paltz can look forward to making strides toward greatness.

"This game instills a foundation of belief, and we keep growing in belief through our process," said Eckberg.  

The Hawks travel south for their first tournament this weekend at the Drew Fall Festival in New Jersey. SUNY New Paltz will kickoff against Stockton at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and tournament hosts Drew University Sunday at 4 p.m. 
 

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