New Paltz, NY – Storm clouds started approaching over the Shawangunk Mountains Saturday just as double zeros hit the scoreboard with overtime looming between the Hawks and visiting Ithaca College.
 
Adding to the atmosphere of raucous crowd and close game between two of the best programs in Region III, the rain heavily came down with each team putting their best seven out on the field for a sudden death double overtime thriller. The hosts withstood a Bombers come back and never trailed in the game with Miranda Britton putting an end to the 70-plus minute contest after scoring the game-winning goal to push the State University of New York New Paltz past No. 23 nationally ranked Ithaca, 3-2 on North Turf Field.  
 
It was an equally matched game from the start as the Hawks held the slight edge in total shots, 16-14, but the Bombers tallied more shots on target (12-11) with Ithaca generating 14 penalty corners to SUNY New Paltz's 12. It was inevitable then, for the third consecutive year, the matchup was destined to head into extra time. Ithaca had bested the Hawks the last two seasons, 2-1 in overtime, but SUNY New Paltz made sure to return the favor in the rubber match Saturday. The Hawks withstood a push by the visitors to end the fourth that bled into the first overtime, but finally put the game away two minutes into the second overtime period.
 
SUNY New Paltz fought to get possession inside its offensive circle, with Meghan Gunning centering a ball toward Britton who worked her way around her defender and reversed a shot toward the back post that tipped off a defender into the net for her second goal of the day and fourth on the season.
 
 
Britton was the catalyst early, as she gave her team the initial 1-0 lead in the final 30 seconds of the first quarter. The scoring opportunity began after a good tackle by Hannah Ackerman inside the circle kept possession in front of goal with Ackerman then feeding a pass to Britton who did the rest.
 
Ithaca controlled the second quarter, earning corner after corner, totaling four in the period, but the Hawks did well in limiting chances. However, the Bombers finally broke through after winning the ball back following the set play, resulting in the first score of the day, which tied the game at ones.  
Ithaca had a prime opportunity to take the lead four minutes into the second half, as it got a ball in behind. Morgan Woolley chased and was forced to foul inside the circle to limit the fastbreak but in turn, the Bombers were awarded a penalty stroke. Brenna Schoefeld stepped up to take the stroke, but her attempt went just wide right of cage but even so, Hawks goalie Gail Comiskey was there to cover her post.
 
SUNY New Paltz then gained momentum toward the end of the period, relentlessly earning six consecutive corners as it refused to leave the circle without a goal. With less than a minute left, Woolley inserted the ball to Tama who ripped a shot bottom left corner for the goal to give her team a 2-1 lead.
 
Ithaca wouldn't go away, and again broke through on consecutive corners with seven minutes to play in regulation. Emily Brown made the initial stop off a shot by Bombers' Juliana Valli for the defensive save, but Ithaca maintained possession and quickly earned another corner. They capitalized on the second attempt to tie the game at 2-2.
 
SUNY New Paltz rolled out Ackerman, Britton, Woolley, Quenneville, Tama, Gunning and Comiskey to start the overtime periods with Ashley McGough coming in to play some minutes and the group out-played the seven of Ithaca's. the Hawks out-shot the Bombers, 6-3 in the period and generated four corners to Ithaca's two, but after withstanding a late surge by the visitors at the end of the first overtime period, they didn't waste too much time to get the ball down field in overtime No. 2 where they closed out on the Britton goal.
 
Quenneville led all players with five shots with Tama and Britton following with four apiece. Britton led the way with two goals, while Woolley had an assist and a defensive save. Comiskey improved to 3-0 after playing the full near 73 minutes, making eight saves.
 
SUNY New Paltz (3-0 overall) looks to remain undefeated as it returns to North Turf Field Wednesday to host Skidmore College Wednesday at 4 p.m.  
 

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