Montclair, NJ — For the second-straight year, the State University of New York New Paltz battled to a 1-1 tie against Montclair State University.
 
The Hawks (1-2-1) scored early to take an initial lead in the match until the Red Hawks (2-0-2) found the equalizer before the first half's end with SUNY New Paltz sophomore goalie Jess Centeri taking over in the second half to make five of her eight stops, including her second penalty kick save on the year, in the second period to help her team keep the 1-1 stalemate Thursday night.
 
The first scoring chance for the Hawks came five minutes after the opening whistle in their first real possession inside their offensive half. Senior midfielder Mia Baldinger slyly played a looped ball over the top to Brooke Kelleher who snuck behind the Red Hawks' defensive line, staying onside, but couldn't get her first touch close enough to put anything threatening on goal.
 
SUNY New Paltz didn't take too long to capitalize, scoring on its first shot on goal two minutes later. The scoring sequence started with a win on the defensive end, as senior center back Sam Wohlmut did well to step up and clear away a ball played through, which allowed her team to build play inside their offensive half. Maggie Cameron made sure the Hawks kept possession inside their offensive third finding a loose ball on the left flank before feeding a pass to Erin Savarese who sent a great looking cross weak side for Kelleher. Kelleher timed her run perfectly once again and played a pass back atop the six-yard box for Kennedy Jones who one-timed her shot into the far netting for her second of the year to give SUNY New Paltz a 1-0 lead early.
 
Montclair found chances as the game waned, the first coming off a throw with about 10 minutes to go in the first half. The Red Hawks caught the visitors on their heels and not marking in the back, which forced Hawks sophomore goalie Jess Centeri to come well off her line to cut off the angle and force a tough shot that went wide. Four minutes later, the hosts won a corner and sent the ensuing set piece into the box, getting a head on the service that nearly found the back corner if not for SUNY New Paltz graduate left back Maggie Cameron who was in perfect position on the post to head the attempt away to keep the lead for her team.  
However, Montclair found the equalizer in the 35th minute stemmed off a win on a 50-50 ball played long over the top. Isabell Kronow managed to get endline and center a pass for Mackenzie Albert who one-timed the opportunity just seven yards out top corner, with Centeri having no chance on the attempt, to tie the score at one goal apiece.
 
SUNY New Paltz ended the half strong though, creating two chances in the final five minutes of the period to threaten the draw at the break.
 
The Hawks, working the ball around well, found space on the weak side thanks to a big switch by sophomore center back Grace Lien. The ball eventually found the foot of Savarese who laid off a quick pass to senior captain Laney Schmitz who ripped a shot headed far post, but Red Hawks goalie Salange Bell made a nice save diving to her right to hold the score. Shortly after, SUNY New Paltz earned a corner played in by Baldinger. The hosts had trouble clearing with the ball scurrying out to Jones who tried another on net that went just wide of frame, just a foot from adding another go-ahead goal.
 
The two teams went back-and-forth in the second half until the hosts started to gain momentum with 30 minutes left in regulation. The first real chance on net came from Montclair on a broken play in the 58th minute as the Hawks struggled clearing out of their defensive third. The ball squeaked out to Red Hawks' Danielle Mullins whose shot was headed toward the left corner, but Centeri collapsed to her right and made the stop.

Montclair kept the pressure on, forcing Centeri to play aggressive off her live. The Selden, NY native did well clearing multiple balls played down the flank and through SUNY New Paltz's backline to keep the threat at bay.
 
The Red Hawks maintained possession in the Hawks' defensive half, but SUNY New Paltz made sure to bend but not break with Centeri playing confidently between the pipes with her biggest save coming in the 71st minute. With the Hawks giving up multiple throws within their half, the Red Hawks ultimately took advantage, turning and ripping a shot that careened off the crossbar. The visitors struggled to clear out of their box and a slide tackle by Savarese was called at the edge of the box, which resulted in a penalty kick opportunity for Montclair.
 
Centeri, already having faced two penalty kicks in four games played thus far in the young 2025 season, guessed correctly for the second time on the year, going to her right and making the stop on the Red Hawks' Carly Guzzardo. The Hawks defense did the rest and made sure to clear away the loose ball.
 
Centeri's work wasn't done yet, however, as she made two more saves to end the half including an impressive reactionary save with 14 minutes left on a shot 12 yards out, going full extension to snag the attempt to help preserve the 1-1 tie for her team.
 
Centeri was the player of the game and finished with eight saves in a full 90 minutes. Baldinger, Jones, Kelleher and Lien all logged 90 minutes as well. Freshman forward Samantha Gemmo played 42 minutes off the bench and recorded a team-high three shots, followed by Jones who had two.
 
The tie broke up a two-game losing skid for SUNY New Paltz whose two losses came against top 25 nationally ranked opponents on the road. The Hawks return home Saturday hoping to get back into the win column, going up against King's College at 11 a.m.
 


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