Utica, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz lost on the road to SUNY Poly Wednesday, 15-11.
 
The Hawks dropped to 3-6 overall with the defeat as they enter conference play for the first time on the year this weekend. They took an initial 3-0 lead, but a lopsided third quarter opened the game up and allowed the Wildcats to take control of the game. The hosts ended out-shooting SUNY New Paltz, 43-40 with both teams suffering 17 turnovers. The Hawks held the advantage at the faceoff X, winning 20 of 30 and picked up 35 ground balls to the Wildcats' 32.
 
Both teams struggled in the middle of the field, as Poly went 15-for-23 while SUNY New Paltz were 12-for-19 on clear attempts.  
 
The Hawks led after the first` 15 minutes, going up 3-2 entering the second. Ryan O'Hara won the game's opening faceoff and SUNY New Paltz took no time in taking a 1-0 lead on the possession. Anthony Senecal was a benefactor, scoring off an assist from James Flanagan.
 
The Wildcats nearly knotted the game on their first offensive set, winning the ensuing faceoff before firing their first shot off the post. Noah Reed picked up the loose ball on the rebound and helped clear the other way for the Hawks, which led to Senecal's second goal of the day as Blake Lyons found the senior on the helper. The goal also notched Senecal his 100th career point, joining just four others in the team's five-year history including teammate James Flanagan who surpassed the mark earlier this year.  
Senecal added onto his total with seven minutes left in the period to boost the Hawks lead to 3-0, leading to a Poly timeout. The hosts answered with goals in the final two minutes to trim the difference to one at the first whistle.
 
SUNY New Paltz forced the Wildcats into a shot clock violation and the turnover resulted in a goal on the offensive end as James Flanagan scored unassisted five minutes into the period to up his team's lead to 4-2. After Poly scored back-to-back goals to tie the game at four, Killian Yombor found the back of the net for the Hawks to push his team in front with 6:30 remaining in the half. But again, the hosts ended the quarter strong and finished two in the final 70 seconds to go up, 6-5 at the break.
 
The Wildcats opened the game up with five unanswered goals to begin the third, adding to the 7-0 run. Aiden Duran found Flanagan for a goal with eight minutes to go in the period to put an end to the stretch and cut the deficit, 11-6.
 
Poly clung onto the momentum in the fourth and got up 13-6 before Quinn Tucker won the ensuing faceoff and found Finn Smith to get SUNY New Paltz within six with 13 minutes left. Tucker won another draw, but the Hawks turned the ball over before earning an attempt on goal. The Hawks defense held on for a stop with Aidan Harrington helping clear the other way with a ground ball pick up. SUNY New Paltz fired three shots before Ethan Scully scored off an assist from Lyons to trim the score at 13-8.
 
The Wildcats created more breathing room, answering almost immediately following a faceoff win to re-upping a six-goal lead. They then went up 15-8 with four minutes to go following a timeout on a successful clear. SUNY New Paltz chased the lead and got within four with three straight goals in the last minute, but the late rally wasn't enough, and the Hawks took their second loss in three games.
 
Senecal led the team with three points on five shots with four ground balls and one caused turnover. Flanagan followed with three points on two goals and an assist off nine shots. Tucker led the Hawks with eight ground balls, gong 16-for-21 on faceoffs. Reed followed with six ground balls.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back home Saturday to face SUNY Oswego on North Turf Field at 1 p.m.  

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