New Paltz, NY — Following back-to-back goals from the visiting Cortland Red Dragons, the State University of New York at New Paltz could not overcome the deficit and took their second loss of the season, 2-0.
Despite outshooting the No. 11 nationally ranked Red Dragons (6-1-2) 20-9, the Hawks (5-1-2) could not finish any of their six attempts on frame during their first conference game of the season. The game was also plagued by stoppages, and across the 90 minutes of play, both teams combined for five yellow cards, 23 fouls and six offside calls.
In the first half, SUNY New Paltz was in control within the offensive third, putting up 12 shots with five on goal in the first alone. In the opening seconds of play,
Alex Wyant found a header opportunity in the sixteen-yard box, but the early attempt went just wide of frame.
Colin Brant followed with two low shots, but both were corralled by Cortland goalkeeper Jordan Ott.
In the 24th minute, the Hawks gained another try at net when a shot from
Kieran Weber was deflected out of bounds by Ott for a corner. Off the kick, Cortland fouled just outside of the box, setting up a free kick for the Hawks.
Ryan Zindler settled the ball and shot, but the attempt went high.
With two minutes remaining in the first,
David Acker and
Bryan Lizama fired the final two shots of the half, but both attempts were outside the posts. The teams headed to the benches for halftime, the score tied 0-0.
SUNY New Paltz rolled into the second with the same intensity from the first, as Brant got a shot off in the first minutes of the half, but Ott denied the try. In the 54th minute, Cortland's Josh Carroll fired the Red Dragon's first shot of the half, but the attempt sailed over the crossbar.
However, only three minutes later, the course of the game was changed in Cortland's favor.
The Red Dragons forced a corner opportunity off the Hawks' backline, where they set up a cross-field look. On the kick, the ball sailed toward the back post, where it bounced off a Red Dragon player and into the back of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
Off the ensuing kickoff, Cortland earned a free kick opportunity. A Red Dragon player sent the ball into the box and connected with Carroll, who turned and fired another goal in the cage, elevating Cortland's lead to 2-0 — with both goals scored within the same minute.
The run changed the momentum of the game, and the Hawks could not find the spark they needed to get past the Red Dragon's backline. Late in the half, goalkeeper
Joe Washington made a sensational sliding save to deny Cortland a fast break opportunity. Unfortunately, the positive momentum gained from the play was too late. With only minutes left in the half, SUNY New Paltz could not overcome the deficit and was downed by the Red Dragons, 2-0.
Brant led the Hawks' offense, totalling four shots with three on frame. Zindler followed with four shots and Weber tallied two attempts with one on goal. Washington gathered two saves on the day, and played the full 90 minutes alongside Sam Snider and
Ryan Bochenski.
SUNY New Paltz goes on the road for its next conference matchup against the Potsdam Bears on Oct. 1. Kick-off is at 3 p.m.
******************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.
