Newburgh, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz won its second straight after defeating Mount Saint Mary College, 16-6 Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Hawks (2-6 overall) never trailed and bookended the game after getting out to a 4-0 lead in the first with a 7-1 onslaught in the fourth to solidify the 10-goal win.
 
SUNY New Paltz out-shot the Knights, 49-20 with 34 shots on goal to the hosts' 13 and also committed a near season-low 17 turnovers while forcing the Knights into 39 in the game. The Hawks also did well on the clear, going 17-for19 while MSMC went 16-for-27, but the hosts did dominate at the faceoff X, winning 19-of-26 and in turn picked up more ground balls, 37-36.
 
SUNY New Paltz scored two goals on its first two shots on goal in its opening possessions to go up 2-0 within the first three minutes of the game. Jack McLaughlin created a 3-0 lead for the Hawks, driving right and getting his hands free to paint the far pipe for the goal with about six minutes to go in the opening period. A double on the defensive end forced the ball loose with Owen Craker credited on the caused turnover. Defensive midfielder Luke Walters picked up the ground ball and went coast-to-coast trying for a goal on the break with his shot deflected, but SUNY New Paltz earned a new shot clock. McLaughlin cleaned up the play and netted his second early in the new 60 to push the lead to four at the end of the first.
 
Nick Darcangelo got the offense started in the second quarter, ripping a bouncer off a nice feed from Finn Smith to pile onto the unanswered run. However, the Knights broke up the scoreless stretch immediately following the ensuing faceoff, as Joseph Corallo won the draw to himself and took the ball to goal with SUNY New Paltz not stopping ball and allowing an easy score to trim the difference to four.
The goal ignited some life into MSMC, as it scored again with three minutes left. Hawks goalie Zach Novak looked like he handed the shot from Knights' Henry Micyk but the attempt hit off the inside of Novak's stick and dribbled behind him into the net for the goal.
 
MSMC called a timeout in the final minute with possession on its offensive end, hoping to get within two in the final moments of the half. However, out of the break poles Yasin Tabatabaee and Drew Hulede pressured the ball in the corner and forced a turnover. Hulede picked up the ground ball and cleared with SUNY New Paltz scoring on the play thanks to a dish from Colin Cleary to Smith with less than a minute to go.
 
However, the Knights won the ensuing faceoff and made the most out of their final offensive set as Tyler Mackay won his matchup before finding Devin Lanzer for the goal to create a 6-3 score at the break.
 
Smith ended his team's slight scoring draught as quick ball movement on 6-v-6 led to an open Smith cutting from X with Clearly there on the feed for the score. However, MSMC answered on another unlucky bounce for Novak as he made the initial save off a Tyler Mackay shot, but the rebound snuck behind him and trickled in for the score to cut the lead, 7-4 with about eight minutes to go in the quarter. Mackay scored again on a bouncer off a sweep from the top to get his team within three. Sean Cassidy picked up the ensuing ground ball off a faceoff win from Brendon Lloyd and Darcangelo, determined, made his way to goal, splitting a double to score and re-up a three-goal advantage for his side.
 
SUNY New Paltz added one more before entering the fourth, started on a quick clear by Novak following a save. He found Smith as an outlet at the midline, who sent the ball down to Blake Hayden. Hayden then fed Walters hustling down on the break who finished his fourth goal of the year.
 
The Hawks started opening the game up in the fourth, scoring seven unanswered as MSMC had trouble keeping up with SUNY New Paltz in the middle of the field. The Hawks, meanwhile, did well in capitalizing on Knights turnovers on the offensive end to create a comfortable cushion, which they held onto the rest of the way.
 
Smith was the offensive catalyst, totaling a career-high seven points on four goals and three assists. His seven points is tied for third most in single-game program history. Darcangelo followed with five points on three goals and two assists with two ground balls and two caused turnovers. Yombor and Hayden each had four points with the former totaling two ground balls on the day. Cassidy led the team on the wing, totaling a game-high seven ground balls to go along with two caused turnovers. Defensive midfielder Brandon Ortiz and Craker led the team defensively with three caused turnovers with Ortiz also notching two ground balls.
 
Novak played the majority of the game and made seven stops and earned the win.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Saturday as it begins SUNYAC play on the road against Plattsburgh. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.


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