NEW PALTZ, NY - The SUNY New Paltz women's soccer team broke through for its first New Jersey Athletic Conference victory Wednesday afternoon, defeating Kean University, 3-2, on North Turf Field.
The Hawks improved to 5-4 overall with the victory and 1-2 in conference play, snapping a two-game skid while producing their highest scoring output since their season-opening win over Hartwick. SUNY New Paltz controlled much of the attacking play, outshooting the Cougars 22-7 with a 12-5 advantage in shots on goal while earning eight corners to Kean's two.
SUNY New Paltz established pressure early with Macleod setting the tone up top, relentlessly working to get on the ball and push the Hawks forward. The junior's pressure paid off less than eight minutes into the contest. The play started with Kara Jahrsdoerfer, who delivered a clean ball ahead to Macleod in the attacking third. Macleod did the rest, burying her team-leading fifth goal of the season at the 7:56 mark to give the Hawks an early 1-0 advantage.
Jahrsdoerfer continued impacting the game from the back, shutting down Kean's attack on her side of the field while consistently helping SUNY New Paltz build forward in possession. Her best service of the afternoon came in the 35th minute, as she delivered a perfectly weighted through ball from inside the Hawks' half that split the Cougars' defense and sent Samantha Gemmo racing in toward goal with a defender on her hip. Gemmo won the one-on-one opportunity, placing her finish into the upper-left corner for her second goal of the season and a 2-0 SUNY New Paltz lead.
Kean cut into the deficit before halftime, scoring in the 40th minute to bring the Cougars back within one. SUNY New Paltz still entered the break holding a 2-1 advantage after controlling many of the opportunities with an 11-3 edge in shots.
Gemmo added her second of the afternoon less than three minutes into the second half. Alyssa Deutsch provided the service this time, finding the senior in the attacking third before Gemmo finished at 47:28 to restore the Hawks' two-goal cushion at 3-1.
Gemmo proved difficult for the Cougars to contain throughout the afternoon, using her pace and ability in space to repeatedly create opportunities in the attacking third. She finished with a game-high nine shots and put five on frame, consistently challenging Kean's back line and creating chances off the dribble.
Macleod was equally active alongside her, continually getting on the ball and driving play forward throughout her 90 minutes on the field. She added four shots with two on goal, helping SUNY New Paltz maintain pressure as the Hawks registered another 11 attempts over the final 45 minutes.
The Cougars kept the game within reach after pulling one back in the 62nd minute, cutting SUNY New Paltz's advantage to 3-2 with nearly half an hour remaining. The Hawks continued pushing forward rather than sitting on the one-goal lead, creating several opportunities to add insurance while limiting Kean to four second-half shots.
SUNY New Paltz ultimately saw out the final stretch to secure its first NJAC victory in program history. Jess Centeri made three saves in the win, while the Hawks finished with advantages of 22-7 in shots, 12-5 in shots on goal and 8-2 in corner kicks.
Gemmo led the attack with her first multi-goal performance of the season, scoring twice on nine shots, while Macleod added her team-leading fifth goal. Jahrsdoerfer was instrumental on both ends of the field, helping limit Kean's opportunities down her side while providing the service on each of the Hawks' first two goals.
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