Fredonia, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz could not overcome an early 3-0 deficit against the Fredonia Blue Devils and suffered its first conference loss, 3-2. 

Within the first seven minutes of play, Fredonia (5-4-2) netted its first two goals, followed by its third in the 36th minute. Although the Hawks (5-3-2) garnered more scoring opportunities and netted two unanswered goals in the second, the Blue Devils were able to hold onto their lead for the entire 90 minutes. 

SUNY New Paltz was first to try on net, with Kennedy Jones and Mia Baldinger both attempting on Fredonia's goalkeeper Casey Fetzner, but both tries were unsuccessful. Jones fired again and sent a low ball on frame, but Fetzner corralled the shot. 

Fredonia's first strike came in the third minute, with forward Bronwyn Madden firing a ball on net. The shot got past the Hawks' backline and Fredonia was first on the board, earning a 1-0 lead in only the third minute. 

And two minutes later, Madden struck again.

Following a saved attempt by Laney Schmitz, the Blue Devils rallied in the other direction, and Madden set up on her own and fired a shot past Madelyn Jachimiak and into the back of the net. Now up 2-0, Fredonia had control of the first half.

The Hawks' offense continued to try to get a shot to go, as they put up seven shots in the ensuing thirty minutes, none of which were successful. In the 36th minute, Fredonia elevated their lead further, as Gabrielle Irwin netted an unassisted goal for the hosts' third of the game. SUNY New Paltz could not respond in the 10 minutes that remained in the first, and the Blue Devils entered halftime with a formidable 3-0 lead. 

In the second, the Hawks were vying for a goal, as Schmitz and Addison Weiner opened the half with two shots in the first two minutes of action. In the 57th minute, Fredonia was looking for another opportunity on net, but an offside call ceased their chance — and swung the momentum in SUNY New Paltz's favor. 

In the 58th minute, Baldinger serviced a ball to Weiner on the frontline. After a Blue Devil defender tried to clear the ball out, Weiner took back possession and chipped a shot over Fetzner for the Hawks' first of the game. Six minutes later, Brooke Kelleher dribbled past Fredonia's backline and sent a pass back to Alyssa Deutsch making a run up. Deutsch one-timed the assist to the back post to cut the score to 3-2 with 26 minutes remaining in the match.

However, the rally fell short as the Hawks failed to net another goal in the time remaining, despite firing 29 total shots compared to Fredonia's 13 tries. The Blue Devils outlasted SUNY New Paltz 3-2. 

Deutsch and Weiner, similar to the Hawks' last game against Potsdam, were the sole scorers of the day with one goal apiece. Schmitz followed with 11 shots and two on frame, and Kelleher dished out one assist and fired two shots on net. Jachimiak earned her second career start and played the full match with four saves made on the day. 

The Hawks return to South Turf Field on Wednesday to take on the Morrisville Mustangs. Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. 

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