New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz collected its first win of the season Saturday with a 13-4 win over Mount Saint Vincent Saturday on North Turf Field.
 
The Hawks totaled a season-high 13 goals on a season-high eight assists, registering a season-most 27 shots on goal. They also garnered a season-high 39 ground balls as the hosts won the faceoff X, 12-9, led by sophomore FOGO Ryan O'Hara who went 11-for-16.
 
Colin Cleary gave SUNY New Paltz the initial lead, catching and finishing on a feed from Jack McLaughlin as Cleary turned and painted the top corner for the game's first goal. The Hawks doubled their lead, stemmed from a save by goalie Jacob Kenny. The freshman then found freshman defensive midfielder Sam Wilbert who pushed in transition and found Killian Yombor who netted his fifth of the year for the fastbreak goal.
 
On a long offensive set, Cleary found the back of the net on the third try for the Hawks, scoring on an unassisted goal to continue on the host's unanswered run. The Dolphins scored their first of the day with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter following the team's first timeout. They executed on the 6-on-6 and trimmed the difference to 3-1, but Finn Smith re-upped the three-goal cushion before the end of the half following another save from Kenny who got the Hawks out on the break leading to Yombor assisting Smith for the fourth goal of the game.
 
 
SUNY New Paltz started opening up the game in the second, scoring three in a row within a two-minute stretch midway through the quarter. Cleary started the stanza with O'Hara following on a faceoff win to himself that led to a Nick Darcangelo goal shortly afterward. A faceoff violation by Mount Saint Vincent allowed an immediate set from the Hawks who capitalized on a Blake Lyons goal. The visitors gifted another possession for SUNY New Paltz following another faceoff violation with Darcangelo getting in on the action for his first of the game to build a 7-1 advantage for his side.  
SUNY New Paltz added onto its lead with 10 minutes to go in the third quarter, stemmed off a defensive stand as Owen Craker played tight defense that helped force a loose ball that was eventually picked up by Brandon Ortiz who pushed in transition. Oritz took the space in front of him and fed freshman Blake Hayden who finished on the fastbreak opportunity to up the lead to 8-1. The Dolphins answered three minutes later, taking advantage of a man-up opportunity, but the Hawks countered with three straight goals until the visitors scored again on a man-up opportunity following an unnecessary roughness call on the Hawks.
 
The two teams traded goals in the fourth before Lyons capped the game with his second of the day, assisted by Yombor with less than two minutes remaining.
 
The offense was spread around for SUNY New Paltz with nine different players registering at least a point. Lyons, Yombor and Cleary led the way with four points apiece with Cleary leading all scorers with four goals.
 
O'Hara finished with a game-high seven ground balls, followed by junior defenseman Aidan Harrington who had five with two caused turnovers. Sophomore defenseman Drew Hulede led the team defensively with three caused turnovers and one ground ball.
 
SUNY New Paltz improved its record to 1-6 overall with the win and looks to put together a winning streak as it resumes action on the road Wednesday against Mount Saint Mary College before it begins SUNYAC play on the road against Plattsburgh State March 28.
 

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