Oneonta, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz bounced back from its first SUNYAC loss of the season to secure an 11-7 road win over Oneonta Wednesday, improving to 4-1 in SUNYAC play.

The Hawks (8-4 overall, 4-1 SUNYAC), like it has been all season, was anchored by its defense which kept the Red Dragons to one of its lowest scoring outputs of the season, limited to just 15 shots on goal — both well under their season averages.
 
SUNY New Paltz was led by junior defender Amy Whitman who topped herself once again with another career game in what is turning into an illustrious individual campaign for the third year. She totaled a game- and career-high eight ground balls, which ranks third-most in the program's single game history, while touting a game- and career-high six caused turnovers, while also adding a pair of draw controls as she also took reps on the draw circle.
 
The Hawks defense posted four consecutive defensive stands before the offense capitalized with the game's first goal with about five minutes left in the first quarter. Allison Beattie drove through Oneonta's zone and quickly fed an open Lexi Atwater after drawing the slide with the senior burying her attempt in front of cage.
 
The Red Dragons answered with three minutes remaining to tie the game with SUNY New Paltz earning ample opportunities to re-up control. However, Oneonta goalie Margot Haring (career-high 15 saves) single-handedly kept her team in, making back-to-back stops in the final two minutes on Atwater and again on a shot from Beattie to hold onto the 1-1 draw by quarter's end.  
Haring helped in her team's momentum entering the second quarter as the hosts held possession to begin the period. The Red Dragons earned a free position on a shooting space call and buried the attempt to take their first lead of the game not even 30 seconds into the quarter. Off a draw control win, they doubled down and scored once again, taking advantage of a late slide on a drive to push the lead to 3-1.
 
SUNY New Paltz's defensive miscues stalled there, and it kept Oneonta off the board for nearly 25 straight minutes, which allowed the Hawks offense chances to rebuild their lead.
 
Mia Baldinger took the matchup in front of her, rolling the crease and side-arming a shot past Haring for the goal. Baldinger was the harbinger for the Hawks, as she aided in the game-tying goal two minutes later after earning a free position attempt on a drive to draw shooting space. The senior found Beattie open at the edge of the crease for the one-more pass off the 8-meter and Beattie buried the attempt to knot the score at 3-3.
 
Whitman continued making plays on the defensive end, first getting her stick on a free position attempt that led to an errant shot and then after the Red Dragons picked up the loose ball, she jarred the ball free for the caused turnover and ground ball pick up. SUNY New Paltz cleared, which resulted in a goal by Samantha Gemmo on the drive for the go-ahead goal with less than two minutes left in the half.
 
Sophomore defender Maddy Luongo got her stick on a pass to force a turnover for the Hawks with less than am minute to go and the team capitalized, as Ava Padilla fed a cutting Lexi Atwater for the score to put the visitors up, 5-3 at halftime.  
SUNY New Paltz built a comfortable cushion at the start of the third period. A defensive stand forced a turnover as the Hawks zone defense did well converging in the middle on a cutter. Aiylin Rutnik came out with the ground ball and after the team settled, the Hawks moved the ball fast leading to a nice feed from Gemmo to Atwater as she baited a double leaving Atwater open in front of the goal.
 
Following an ensuing draw control win by Helena Willis, Beattie scored again on the set. The junior showed confidence in dodging through Oneonta's zone, spinning through two defenders before finishing top pipe with 11 minutes to go leading to an immediate timeout from the hosts as SUNY New Paltz pushed its advantage, 7-3.
 
The Red Dragons had a prime opportunity to jump back to life out of the break. The Hawks were handed a green card in the midfield resulting in a man-up chance for the hosts, but SUNY New Paltz defense stayed stingy in their man-down zone. Senior defender Sam Wohlmut got her stick on a pass marking low allowing goalie Gabriella Tommaso to pick up the loose ball and clear. The Hawks milked the remaining time on the card and once at full strength, Beattie scored again as she rolled back off a defender, weaving through a weak slide inside to score her second consecutive.
 
Oneonta won the ensuing draw and finally broke through on their scoreless drought thanks to a laser from the top of arc by Angelina Weinert.  
 
SUNY New Paltz milked another green card to start the fourth, as Whitman and Willis forced a turnover on the defensive end leading to another ground ball by Whitman. Oneonta made a stand, but a throw away allowed the Hawks another chance with Atwater finding a way to a goal. Her shot was deflected, but Haring couldn't track the shot with the ball slowly trickling behind her for the goal.
 
The Red Dragons continued struggling with SUNY New Paltz's pressure. They frantically overthrew a pass at the top spot, leading to a ground ball by Atwater on the other side of the restraining line. The sequence led to a goal from Atwater on a nice find from Baldinger.
 
Baldinger capped the scoring with about six minutes left in the game to give the Hawks their largest lead, as Alex DiRusso fed a cutting Baldinger who used a little deception on head fake to move Haring before placing her attempt in the back of the net to cushion her team's lead, 11-4.
 
Oneonta didn't go away and put away three of their seven goals in the final four minutes of the game. A bad pass inside allowed the Red Dragons to get going in transition leading to a fastbreak goal with about four minutes left. They won the ensuing draw and immediately earned a free position, which they buried to cut the difference to six.
 
SUNY New Paltz was gifted another green card but couldn't score in the penalty with Atwater's shot saved by Haring. Oneonta got going the other way and earned another free position attempt which they capitalized on with less than a minute to go, finalizing the 11-7 score.
 
Beattie and Atwater each had four points to lead the team offensively. Beattie added three ground balls, while Atwater had a ground ball and a team-leading five draws. Piper Mascaros and Tommaso split time in net, totaling five and three saves, respectively, with Mascaros credited with the win in the start.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back on the road Saturday, as it faces Buffalo State for a 11 a.m. matchup.
 

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