Saratoga Springs, NY – The State University of New York New Paltz finally opened up its 2025 campaign Saturday, going on the road to face Skidmore College.
 
The Hawks, having an unusually long preseason with their original home, and season opener postponed last weekend, started their year on the road against a tough Thoroughbreds team that were fresh off two tight losses against perennial programs Springfield College and reigning SUNYAC Champion SUNY Cortland.
 
SUNY New Paltz held its own and had moments of controlling the momentum, but a dominant third quarter by Skidmore ultimately decided the game as the Hawks fell, 13-6. 
 
Skidmore took an opening, 2-0 lead before Morgan Atwater cut the deficit in half off a drive from the left side. The Hawks originally had a free position in the possession, but pulled out, holding numbers in a man-up opportunity. They worked the ball around and were patient in their offensive set, which led to Atwater's first score of the day with about 7:20 left. 
 
SUNY New Paltz continued finding opportunities offensively, adding another early in the second quarter to cut the score to 4-2. Atwater again was the beneficiary, as she drew a free position attempt, which she buried for her second of the game. 
 
 
Skidmore finally broke through the Hawks' defense with 17 seconds left in the half, going into the break with a 5-2 lead. 
 
The goal may have skewed momentum, as the hosts dominated the third quarter and scored four unanswered goals that bled into the fourth. Their run continued with three unanswered goals to begin the final 15 minutes with the Thoroughbreds taking their largest lead at 12-2.   
Coach Randy Vite called her group together in a timeout and re-energized her team with the Hawks showing fight in the final eight minutes. Francesca Corozzo came up with a draw control, which immediately led to a Kaitlyn Shaw goal that galvanized the team down the stretch. Following a man-up goal by Skidmore, Atwater picked up the ensuing draw and Shaw took advantage with her second of the day. 
 
SUNY New Paltz was hit with another card on a foul in the middle of the field, but its defense held firm during the stretch and even forced a turnover thanks to Morgan Woolley as the Hawks got to even. They cleared the other way and scored on their next offensive set, as Mia Baldinger fed Shaw for the score with Baldinger registering her 100th career point on the play. 
 
Shaw continued to prove herself as a two-time All-Region pick, as the fifth-year made play after play. She picked up another draw following her score and Skidmore was handed a yellow card during the possession. SUNY New Paltz took advantage on the man-up opportunity, as Shaw fed Allison Beattie inside with the sophomore firing top corner for her first of the year to cap the Hawks' afternoon with just more than a minute left. 
 
SUNY New Paltz had more opportunities than the Thoroughbreds in the first half, out-shooting them, 14-10 but the two finished tied in the category with 23 shots apiece in the game with the hosts holding the advantage in shots on target, 15-12. The Hawks won the turnover battle, forcing 29 to Skidmore's 25, while also picking up more ground balls (25-22). The Thoroughbreds had the slight advantage on the draw, 12-11.
 
Shaw led the way, finishing with three goals, one assist, three ground balls, two caused turnovers and a team-leading seven caused turnovers. Atwater followed with two points, three ground balls, one caused turnover and one draw control. Corozzo had one of her best performances of her career, registering a team-high five ground balls and four caused turnovers to go along with a draw control win. 
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Tuesday, hosting Utica in its home opener on North Turf Field at 3 p.m.
 

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