New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz earned a 19-7 win over Potsdam Wednesday on North Turf Field.
 
The Hawks improved to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in the SUNYAC, while the Bears dropped to 5-4 and 0-4 respectively.
 
Potsdam shocked SUNY New Paltz to start, grabbing the game's first three draw controls and capitalizing on each possession to take a 3-0 lead within the first four minutes. Kaitlyn Shaw broke the stretch with the Hawks' first goal, which came with less than nine minutes remaining in the quarter.
 
The Bears immediately answered off the ensuing draw, scoring less than a minute later. Sam Wohlmut picked up the draw control for SUNY New Paltz, allowing the Hawks to run a set on offense resulting in a good look from Ava Padilla to Kira Tucker whose quick-sticked attempt careened off the pipe. The hosts struggled picking up the ground ball and Potsdam cleared the other way, found an opportunity inside and despite a clean check the ball still found the back of the net for its fifth goal.
 
SUNY New Paltz coach Randy Vite called a timeout to regroup her team, and they responded with a draw win by Shaw and goal by Morgan Atwater from Shannon Lewis. The Hawks started finding their footing and worked hard on the ride, which helped build momentum as they forced back-to-back turnovers to keep the ball on the offensive end, eventually leading to a Lexi Atwater goal off a feed by Mia Baldinger. Morgan Atwater then won the ensuing draw, drove through the Bears defense and got her team within one with less than three minutes left in the period. Shaw capped the quarter with a goal to tie the game at 5-5 entering the second.
 
SUNY New Paltz snatched its first lead of the game just 30 seconds into the second period, as Padilla fed Tucker for her first of the game. The Hawks garnered more opportunities on cage but had trouble finding the back of the net. They stayed steadfast, however, providing ample pressure on the ride and forced consecutive turnovers, which led to another goal by Tucker this time off a dish by Baldinger to push the score to 7-5.
 
 
The Bears forced a turnover on SUNY New Paltz's ensuing offensive possession, but Amy Whitman was there for the Hawks beyond the restraining line to pick up the loose ball and helping her team to another possession, which led to a Shaw goal to continue the run.
 
Both teams went scoreless through a near six-minute stretch. SUNY New Paltz had a chance to pile on after the visitors were handed a yellow, but Morgan Woolley was called on a swing to the head, evening players at six each. Potsdam took advantage, earning a free position and scoring off the far hash to get within two. However, the Hawks refused to let the Bears climb back any closer, as they rattled off four-straight goals in the final four minutes to end the half up, 12-6. Woolley made up for the card on the very next defensive possession after Potsdam picked up the draw control, forcing a turnover which led to a Morgan Atwater goal that started the run. Morgan Atwater scored again after self-drawing, before Lexi Atwater picked up the next draw leading to a Samantha DeLucca goal to notch her first of the year.  
SUNY New Paltz continued its run into the third quarter and began running away with the win. Shaw took less than 45 seconds into the second half to net another, stemmed off a caused turnover by Morgan Atwater. Shaw scored again following good defense by Wohlmut behind the cage that forced an errant pass and a Bears turnover. The miscue by Potsdam led to a Shaw goal off a feed by Padilla, which boosted the lead to 14-6.
 
Wohlmut forced another turnover, but the Hawks couldn't move the ball down field and failed the clear. DeLucca worked to win possession back though in the midfield and forced a turnover, leading to a Morgan Atwater goal off a feed from Allison Beattie with 9:40 to go in the period. Helena Willis got in on the action, as the sophomore weaved her way through the defense to net her second of the year and earn a running clock for the hosts.
 
Padilla scored one last goal to end the third quarter, assisted by Baldinger who with assist, became the team's all-time assist leader surpassing the previous record held by alumna Samantha DelGuadio since 2012.
 
SUNY New Paltz scored two more to open up the fourth quarter, stretching its unanswered run to 12 before the Bears ended the streak with a goal in the final two-plus minutes of the game.
 
Shaw led the team offensively, scoring a season-high six goals on 10 shots, eight of which were on goal with two ground balls, one caused turnover and a game-high five draw controls. Morgan Atwater followed with five goals on eight shots, while recording a team-high five ground balls and five caused turnovers with two draw controls. Padilla and Baldinger each had five points, totaling one goal and four assists apiece, while Baldinger secured four draws as well.
 
Defensively, Woolley was the catalyst, totaling a game-high five caused turnover which helped catapult her atop the program's all-time caused turnovers list with the mantle previously being held by alumna Erin Tornatore since 2013. Lexi Atwater and Wohlmut followed with two caused turnovers apiece with the former also registering two goals, a ground ball and two draws, while the latter added one draw control to her stat line.
 
SUNY New Paltz resumes SUNYAC action Saturday, going on the road to face also conference undefeated SUNY Cortland at 1 p.m.



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