Cortland, NY — A 10-minute stretch in the third quarter was the difference in a highly anticipated matchup between the State University of New York New Paltz and SUNY Cortland Saturday.
 
The Hawks held a 4-3 lead with 11:30 left in the third quarter, but the Red Dragons countered with six unanswered goals to help grab an eventual, 10-7 victory.
 
SUNY New Paltz got out to a 2-0 advantage to start the game. Kaitlyn Shaw earned an early free position on the Hawks' first offensive set of the game but couldn't put the goal away from center hash. Instead, Cortland got the ball out and pushed in transition. SUNY New Paltz's defense did well to work its way back in and a crash by veteran defenders Francesca Corozzo and Sam Wohlmut forced a turnover with Wohlmut calmly picking up the ground ball and transitioning the other way. The caused turnover resulted in the game's first goal, as SUNY New Paltz settled back on offense. Mia Baldinger had a great find to Kira Tucker as she drew a slide rounding the crease, leading to an open Tucker in front of goal who did the rest.
 
The Hawks forced another turnover after the Red Dragons won the ensuing draw. Ava Padilla had a really nice look from behind the cage, feeding a cutting Lexi Atwater for the goal.
 
SUNY New Paltz's defense continued to impress to start, as the Red Dragons registered their first shot of the game with only 6:30 remaining in the first quarter. Shaw was aggressive on the play, nearly picking off the pass, but the miss resulted in an open lane for the Red Dragons. Wohlmut slid from X and provided enough pressure to deter the shot with Piper Mascaros coming up with the stop in goal.
 
The Hawks couldn't clear the ball and Cortland got another opportunity on offense with just more than five minutes remaining in the period. The Red Dragons tried to feed inside with Wohlmut there to get her stick on the pass, but the ball deflected unluckily into the goal to give Cortland its first score of the game to trim SUNY New Paltz's lead, 2-1.  
The Red Dragons tied the game at 2-2 to start the second quarter. They took its first lead of the game with seven minutes left in the half, earning back-to-back free position attempts with the second coming on the left center hash where they capitalized for the goal.

SUNY New Paltz had a chance to tie the game with less than three minutes left in the half as the Red Dragons were hit with a yellow card, but Cortland played good defense and forced a turnover on a crash near the crease on Ava Padilla forcing a turnover. The hosts cleared, killed the penalty and ultimately the score remained at 3-2 at the break.
 
Shaw didn't' waste any time to start the third, dodging through high pressure, weaving her way by four defenders for the goal to knot the game at 3-3. The Red Dragons won the ensuing draw, but Wohlmut forced another turnover providing pressure behind the net and getting a back check off with the loose ball falling behind the back line to regain possession for her team. They failed the ensuing clear, but the defense once again stood up. This time Aiylin Rutnik got her stick on a pass with the Red Dragons looking to feed inside. They got the ball across to earn another chance on offense and the result was a Mia Baldinger goal. Baldinger used a screen to get a step on her defender and beat Cortland's goalie top pipe to push her team ahead, 4-3.
 
However, the hosts quickly answered and rode a 5-0 run in the final 11 minutes of the third quarter to grab all the momentum and a comfortable, 8-4 lead entering the fourth. Wohlmut was hit with a yellow to end the period, giving Cortland the ball to start the final period and it capitalized with its sixth unanswered goal to extend its advantage, 9-4. Morgan Atwater ended the goalless stretch for SUNY New Paltz, taking advantage of a free position save by Mascaros on one end. The Red Dragons answered with about 4:30 left to take a 10-5 lead. Shaw and Morgan Atwater both found the back of the net in the final 39 seconds to closen the score.
 
Baldinger, Morgan Atwater and Shaw each had two points to lead the team offensively. Shaw added a team-high five ground balls and four draw controls to go along with two caused turnovers. Corozzo led the team defensively with a game-high four caused turnovers and one ground ball. Wohlmut followed with two ground balls and two caused turnovers. Mascaros played the full 60 minutes and finished with nine saves.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns home Wednesday to take on SUNY Morrisville on North Turf Field at 4 p.m.


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