New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz couldn't complete a late comeback against visiting Oswego Saturday on North Turf Field and suffered its second SUNYAC loss of the season, 8-7.
 
The Hawks (10-5 overall, 6-2 SUNYAC) honored their six graduating seniors prior to the game in Lexi and Morgan Atwater, Gabriella Tommaso, Mia Baldinger, Nicole Matthews and Sam Wohlmut. Lexi Atwater notched her 200th goal of her career in the game, as she sits second all-time to only 2025 alumna Kaitlyn Shaw (242) with Atwater and Shaw the only Hawks to eclipse the 200-goal mark.
 
The Lakers (11-4, 8-0) held onto the ball for the majority of the first half, having long offensive sets as midfielder Alexis Hill helped her team to 11-of-17 draw wins at the faceoff X. SUNY New Paltz's defense sustained the pressure and anchored in to allow 22 shots and kept the team in the game.
 
Lexi Atwater pulled down the game's first draw and the hosts immediately capitalized as Baldinger gave her team the initial lead.

Baldinger was the catalyst all over the field, as the senior not only produced two goals, but registered a team-leading three caused turnovers and three ground balls as she was active on the ride and in the Hawks' zone defense.
 
A violation on the draw gave Oswego possession and it capitalized with a goal to knot the game. Another early start allowed the Lakers to take possession once again with SUNY New Paltz anchoring in. The Hawks were called on a foul in the arc resulting in a free position, but a good crash by defender Amy Whitman allowed for an easy save for Tommaso (4 saves). However, Oswego earned a man up on the ensuing play. The Hawks made Oswego work as they marked tight in their man-down zone, but another foul called on a crash resulted in another free position and the Lakers capitalized on the third try, side-arming a rip from center hash for the goal to take a 2-1 lead.

 
 
Baldinger single-handily won the ball back for her team on two-straight possessions, first on the ride with a back check with seven minutes to go, but SUNY New Paltz was unable to settle as a missed pass allowed the visitors to retain the ball once again.
 
Baldinger then forced a foul on teh Lakers, cutting hard back to the ball on the clear with Oswego getting called on a push from behind that resulted in a green card to allow the Hawks an opportunity for a man-up, but SUNY New Paltz threw the ball away immediately. Tommaso bailed her team out, making a save on the break to preserve the one-goal difference. Baldinger then returned possession toward the Hawks once again, getting her stick on a pass for the caused turnover resulting in another green card on the Lakers in transition, which allowed SUNY New Paltz to go into the second quarter on the power play.  
However, the hosts couldn't take advantage in the following period with Oswego scoring next time down the field as the Hawks were again called on a foul in the 8. Ava Padilla finally answered for her team, rolling the crease and beating her man as she finished in front of the goal to cut the score, 3-2 with about 10 minutes to go in the half.
 
Atwater was handed a green card on a swing after Allison Beattie lost the ball on a crash inside on a drive. Oswego took advantage of the man-up and pushed the lead to two. SUNY New Paltz's defense stood in with Aiylin Rutnik and Chiara Rutigliano both getting their sticks on passes, but the Hawks struggled picking up the ensuing ground ball, which allowed the Lakers second chance opportunities.
 
Rutnik and Rutigliano once again teamed up to aid in a turnover and attempted transition down field, but Oswego did a good job locking off defenders Wohlmut and Whitman who have been crucial in the clear all year for the Hawks. The result was a turnover and Oswego scoring on the semi-break leading to a timeout by the hosts with about four minutes remaining.
 
SUNY New Paltz hung in down the stretch with Wohlmut forcing a turnover on a charge call, as the senior stepped in on a slide, getting in front of the Lakers' Gianna Zerrilo to garner the caused turnover on the foul call.
 
The momentum defensively bled into the third quarter as the Hawks' defense continued to prove itself. Wohlmut stood up Hill, forcing her to outlet to Aubri Greene who forced an errant pass that was tipped by Grace Vience for the turnover. SUNY New Paltz couldn't get a clean look on offense and eventually another turnover led to a goal for Hill, as she weaved through the Hawks' zone for the score.
 
Piper Mascaros (5 saves) made a crucial save man-down, which helped her team cut the deficit in half as Baldinger scored off a feed from Padilla behind cage with six minutes left, but a turnover on the offensive end led to another goal from Hill to up the visitors advantage to four.  
Mascaros came up clutch again, making a save on a Hill 8-meter with SUNY New Paltz clearing cleanly the other way. Samantha DeLucca aided in the comeback, as Beattie found DeLucca on the slip to create a 7-4 score with about 10 seconds left. Atwater then came up with a huge win on the draw circle to end the period, which allowed SUNY New Paltz to retain possession entering the fourth.
 
Kaite Picarello took advantage of the extra possession as the sophomore bullied her way to cage for the unassisted goal to give her team life to start the fourth. Hill won the ensuing draw and earned a free position on the other end, as SUNY New Paltz were called on another foul in the arc. Mascaros made the easy stop thanks to good stick by Rutigliano on the crash but threw the ball away on the clear and Oswego took advantage on the ensuing set.
 
Hill forced a turnover on a successful back check on Helena Willis on the ride and immediately pushed on the break. Whitman and Wohlmut crashed hard with Whitman called for a yellow on the play. The Hawks backed up their captain and sustained the two-minute man-down. Hill earned another free position, but Wohlmut managed to get her stick on the attempt. Oswego retained the ball, but SUNY New Paltz locked in and forced another turnover with Kayden Cornell picking up a key ground ball in a scrum to help her team clear the other way.
 
The Hawks finally found the back of the net again with five minutes to go, as Atwater quick-sticked a goal off a feed from Padilla from X to get her team within two. Out of an Oswego timeout with three minutes left, pressure from Baldinger and Whitman forced Hill into a turnover with Cornell coming up clutch again as she helped win the ball again in a scrum. SUNY New Paltz's offense settled and Atwater earned a free position on a drive with the senior capitalizing on the second attempt after getting hit again on the first, scoring what was her 200th goal of her career and bringing her team back within one with two minutes left.
 
Hill won a crucial ensuing draw, picking up the loose ball and Oswego milked the time. SUNY New Paltz pressured out with Wohlmut forcing the Lakers to swing the ball opposite restraining line, but ultimately the pressure resulted in a penalty as Wohlmut was called on a push in the final 20 seconds trying to win the ball back and the Lakers retained control from there to hold onto the 8-7 win.
 
Padilla led the team with three points on a goal and two assists. Atwater had two goals, a ground ball and three draws. Vience, earning the start on defense, played tough and finished with two caused turnovers and one ground ball.
 
SUNY New Paltz go into its last regular season game at 10-5 overall and 6-2 in the SUNYAC, sitting third behind Cortland and Oswego. The Hawks finish the regular season on the road Wednesday against Morrisville at 4 p.m.  
 

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