New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz collected a 17-6 home opening win over Utica Tuesday afternoon thanks to an explosive second half where the Hawks kept the Pioneers scoreless.

"I think it was exciting to finally be home," said SUNY New Paltz graduate defender Morgan Woolley. "Our home game was originally last Saturday, but it was exciting for us to come out, play a really good team and I thought we were able to have fun with it and make plays."

The Hawks (1-1 overall) struggled defensively to start the game, giving up five free position goals in the first half with Utica scoring off each opportunity. SUNY New Paltz opened up with a 2-0 lead, but the Pioneers worked their way back in during the second quarter. The visitors got within one, tallying the first goal of the period after finding an open cutter down the middle for the score, slicing the difference to 4-3.

The Hawks' attackers helped gain the ball back on the ride resulting in a goal for the hosts. Junior Mia Baldinger pressured hard and forced an errant pass with Shannon Lewis going up one-handed to get a piece and earn the caused turnover and ground ball with the ensuing possession resulting in a Lexi Atwater goal to extend the cushion, 5-3.

Utica slowly chipped away at the lead down the stretch, however. After a save on the defensive end, the Pioneers cleared and earned another free position. They found top-target Maria Stuhlman for an extra pass and an easy goal to get within one. The visitors won the ensuing draw, and Stuhlman generated another free position, which she took herself for the score to tie the game at 5-all.
 

The two teams traded goals for another stalemate at 6-6 with about four minutes left but SUNY New Paltz ended the half with two unanswered goals to give itself some life at the break highlighted by a stout defensive play by graduate captain Kaitlyn Shaw.

As time winded down, Utica held onto the ball but the savvy fifth year baited a pass that she knocked down, picked up and started transition the other way. She found Ava Padilla cutting up the field who zipped a pass to an open Lexi Atwater who had a 1-v-1 with the Pioneers goalie, notching her third of the half to bring the Hawks' lead to 8-6 and earn some momentum into the break.

SUNY New Paltz held the slight advantage in shots (15-13) with the Hawks forcing seven caused turnovers, but the Utica had the advantage on draws in the half, 8-7.

The Hawks tightened up defensively in the second half, limiting 8-meter attempts to just two in the final 30 minutes but did concede one early in the third. However, Piper Mascaros (three saves), who started the second half in cage, came up with a huge stop with about eight minutes left in the period to help hold the momentum. Utica's Belicia Biette earned the left center hash and drove in, trying to beat Mascaros low, but the sophomore smothered the shot and had the wherewithal to recover quickly for the rebound attempt, eating up the shot high for the double-save. She quickly pushed, getting SUNY New Paltz out on the break resulting in a free position for Morgan Atwater, who buried her attempt on the other end to extend the lead to 11-6.

Kira Tucker capped the third quarter stretch to put SUNY New Paltz ahead, 12-6 entering the fourth. Woolley, though, was the x-factor in the period. She forced four of her final six turnovers in the quarter and picked up four of her seven ground balls in the period, swarming the Pionneers in her top spot to aid in the Hawks' defensive performance that limited Utica to just three shots — two of which came on consecutive plays Mascaros took care of — within the 15-minute span.

"I think defensively our big change going into the second [half] was making sure we were playing more reserved," Woolley said. "I think we gave up five, I think, 8-meters, so five of the six goals were 8-meters. We wanted to make sure we were breaking down our feet and not forcing unnecessary fouls."

The fourth was a dominant effort by the Hawks, fully grasping all momentum in the game and pushing in transition for highlight goals, which included career firsts for freshmen Lewis and Katie Picarello. Lewis' first stemmed off a strong defensive stand by SUNY New Paltz, as senior captain Francesca Corozzo and junior Sam Wohlmut did well to crash on a free position attempt, getting their stick on the shot that was then cleared the other way resulting in a Lewis goal. Picarello's score came following a caused turnover by Mascaros who aggressively came out of her crease to snag a lazy pass over the middle. She got the ball out quickly with Wohlmut running in transition and forcing a foul in the middle of the field that resulted in a Pioneer green card. Picarello then took advantage of the man-up opportunity and brought the lead to a running clock at 16-6 with more than three minutes left.

"It was really exciting," said Woolley of watching her freshmen tally their first collegiate goals. "I think it's really exciting too to have your first collegiate goal be on your home field with home fans and some of their families being here as well."
Baldinger won the ensuing draw control and SUNY New Paltz netted one last insurance goal on a feed from Lewis to Lexi Atwater to solidify the 17-6 outcome.

Lexi Atwater was the catalyst offensively, finishing with seven goals and one assist for eight points — tied for fifth most in the program record books for a single game, while her seven goals tied for third most. Shaw followed with five points, doing a little of everything, as she ended with three goals, two assists, three ground balls, three caused turnovers and a team-leading six draw controls. Padilla also recorded five points on two goals and three assists, while Baldinger also contributed in all facets, ending with an assist, five ground balls and five caused turnovers.

Woolley ended as the defensive player of the game, as her seven ground balls was three shy of the program's single-game record set by Morgan Atwater last year, landing fourth most, while her six caused turnovers were three shy of her own record she set back last season and was tied for third-most in single-game program history.

"I think our defense did a really good job of sliding and that gave me the opportunity to make sure I was pressuring up top," Woolley said. "I know I get a little bit more free range than some people in our defensive zone, but I thought it was exciting."

SUNY New Paltz has short rest as it will get back on North Turf Field Wednesday afternoon, hosting Mt. St. Mary's College at 3 p.m.
 

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