New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz fell in a tight game to visiting No. 16 Stevens Wednesday on North turf Field, 2-1.
Video review was the headliner of the match, used for the first time at North Turf Field. After the Hawks took the lead in the first quarter, a video review on a push from the back resulted in a stroke for the Ducks, who capitalized for the equalizer. They then added the go-ahead goal 10 minutes later to ultimately take the win.
SUNY New Paltz struck first in the final minute of the opening quarter. Following a defensive stand, the Hawks transitioned out and found the stick of
Rachel Tama who weaved through two defenders into the circle sending a pass through to
Ashley McGough. McGough dove, hitting the deck to get a poke on the ball to guide it past Ducks goalie Lily Wierzbicki for the score.
The game changed in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Stevens was awarded a corner, which was defended well with Hawks senior goalie
Gail Comiskey doing a good job to smother back-to-back shots, but the hosts had trouble clearing the ball away. Getting low as a rebound scurried toward goal, Comiskey was kneed toward the back of the head with her helmet coming off on the play. She left the game from the collision with freshman
Grace Grant making her third appearance of her collegiate career replacing Comiskey in net.
The officials stopped the game to review the play, weighing whether to give the Ducks a card but after several minutes, it was deemed unintentional contact. The Hawks lost the ball with Stevens getting a stick on the free hit out, resulting in another opportunity in the circle with the attempt by the visitors going wide. However, the game was stopped once again from the officials who went over to the table to review the previous sequence and after more time, they changed the call to a push from the back on the shot resulting in a penalty stroke for Stevens.
Less than a minute after entering the game, Grant's first shot was a penalty stroke. Despite the valiant effort, the Ducks snuck the shot into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
The life was sucked out of the game for the rest of the half with the stoppages hindering both team's momentum, but ultimately, Stevens found another score. With three minutes left, SUNY New Paltz continued to struggle getting the ball out of its defensive 25 and as a result, the Ducks dribbled into the circle, got end line and slipped a ball past Grant coming out of cage with Stevens there to hit in the go-ahead goal.
The Hawks regrouped in the second half and had chances to tie, earning two corners apiece in each of the final two quarters. The most dangerous came in the fourth, as
Elizabeth Austin sent a ball toward cage that deflected off a defender's stick. McGough and freshman forward
Joleigh Kozack were on the posts but couldn't get a stick on the ball to tip in the rebound with the deflection going just wide of net.
SUNY New Paltz's defense stepped up in the final 10 minutes, as
Madeline Meyer helped clear away a dangerous attempt for the Ducks midway through the quarter on a clean tackle.
Gabriella Barth then cleared away an attempt in front of net and again recovered well with eight minutes left on a 2-v-1 to slow down the break with Grant doing well coming out to make the stop.
The Hawks earned one last corner with five minutes left but couldn't handle the insert cleanly with Stevens' flyer coming out and making the tackle to end the threat. The Ducks held possession in their offensive end and bled out time to hold onto the one-goal win.
The visitors out-shot SUNY New Paltz, 16-9 with the Hawks totaling six shots on goal to Steven's 10. They held the advantage in corners, registering eight in the game while limiting the Ducks to just two.
Tama led the team with four shots, two on goal, followed by Austin with two. Comiskey made two saves in just more than 16 minutes with Grant finishing with five stops.
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Saturday, going on the road to take on No. 21 Ithaca at 1 p.m.
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