Canton, NY — The State University of New York opened up SUNYAC play Saturday on the road against SUNY Canton and picked up a 16-7 win.
 
The Hawks improved to 6-2 overall, bouncing back from just their second loss of the season Wednesday, which came against No. 9 nationally ranked Pomona-Pitzer.
 
After the Roos took the initial 1-0 lead, the Hawks answered with seven unanswered goals within a six-minute span started by Lexi Atwater. Gabriella Tommaso made a save on the defensive side for the Hawks with Morgan Woolley picking up the ground ball and clearing the other way, leading to an Atwater goal off an assist by Shannon Lewis. Morgan Atwater won the ensuing draw and SUNY New Paltz took advantage of the possession, as Lewis scored off a feed by Kaitlyn Shaw. Shaw then won the following draw control, leading to a Morgan Atwater goal to push the lead to 3-1 with 11 minutes left in the first.
 
Canton was hit with a green card following a foul between the restraining lines and Morgan Atwater became the beneficiary, scoring a man-up goal with Ava Padilla registering an assist on the play. With eight minutes left in the quarter, Tommaso made a save off a free position attempt and quickly moved the ball up the field, resulting in a Shaw goal from Morgan Atwater to create a four-goal difference. The Roos picked up the ensuing draw control, but inadvertently turned the ball over with Shaw picking up the loose ball and capitalizing the other way for her 24th goal of the year. Mia Baldinger snatched the ensuing draw control and Morgan Atwater then scored to lift SUNY New Paltz to a 7-1 advantage.
 
Canton ended the 7-0 run with a free position goal with just more than two minutes to play in the quarter, but Lexi Atwater responded with her second of the day a minute left in the period to push the lead to 8-2.  
SUNY New Paltz ended the half with a seven-goal advantage as Kira Tucker scored off a feed by Baldinger who kept the offensive set alive with a ground ball pick up following an initial shot by Padilla.
 
Lewis ballooned the Hawks lead to 10 with less than four minutes remaining in the third, scoring following a good clear by SUNY New Paltz that was started on a free position save by Piper Mascaros. The running clock was stopped though a minute later, as the Roos answered with a free position goal to trim the score to 14-5 entering the fourth.
 
The Hawks held off the hosts from there, as Lexi and Morgan Atwater scored goals to provide some cushion onto the lead. Lexi Atwater netted her team-leading fifth of the day with nine minutes left in the game, capping a prolific week by notching her 100th career goal. She joined just seven others in program history, including teammates Kaitlyn Shaw and twin sister Morgan, to reach the milestone. The Brighton, NY native finished the week on a tear, scoring 12 goals and registering 13 points with seven ground balls, two caused turnovers and seven draws on the week to lead her team offensively.
 
Morgan Atwater followed offensively on the day, also registering six points on four goals and two assists. Shaw finished with three goals and two assists, while Lewis totaled two goals and two assists. Junior defender Sam Wohlmut led the team with five ground balls and added two caused turnovers. Lexi Atwater followed with four ground balls, two caused turnovers and one draw controls. Morgan Atwater had a team-high three caused turnovers to go along with two ground balls and a team-leading four draws. Baldinger chipped in with three assists, three ground balls, a caused turnover and three draw controls. Tommaso and and Mascaros, meanwhile, combined for 10 saves with Tommaso picking up the win.
 
SUNY New Paltz resumes SUNYAC play next Saturday, going back on the road to face Fredonia March 29 at 1 p.m.


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