PATCHOGUE, NY – The SUNY New Paltz Men's Soccer team opened its 2026 campaign Tuesday afternoon on Long Island, battling St. Joseph's University Long Island to a 2-2 draw at John A. Danzi Stadium.
The Hawks jumped out to a commanding two-goal advantage in the opening 22 minutes, with David Lamour and Kieran Weber each finding the back of the net while Brandon Dhanoolal played distributor on both scores. The Golden Eagles responded with two goals in the second half to erase the deficit and force SUNY New Paltz to settle for a point in its season opener.
St. Joseph's generated the first opportunity of the afternoon less than five minutes into the contest, but Hawks goalkeeper Joe Washington was ready for the early test, turning away Jack Pulisic's attempt to keep the game scoreless.
In the eighth minute, Dhanoolal helped create the Hawks' first attacking opportunity of the new campaign and connected with Lamour, who buried his first goal of the season to give SUNY New Paltz an early 1-0 advantage.
The Hawks continued to control the opening half and doubled their advantage less than 15 minutes later. Dhanoolal once again found himself at the center of the attack, this time connecting with Weber in the 22nd minute as the senior put away his first goal of the campaign to push SUNY New Paltz ahead, 2-0.
Dhanoolal nearly added a goal of his own around the second Hawks score, putting two attempts on frame in a four-minute span, but Golden Eagles goalkeeper Dean Burchard turned away both opportunities to keep the deficit at two.
SUNY New Paltz's back line limited St. Joseph's throughout the remainder of the half, with the Golden Eagles managing just two total shots through the opening 45 minutes as the Hawks carried their 2-0 advantage into the break.
The hosts came out with renewed pressure in the second half, earning three corner kicks within the opening seven minutes as they looked to cut into the deficit.
The pressure eventually paid off in the 53rd minute. Pulisic connected with Jack Deutsh, who found the back of the net to cut the SUNY New Paltz advantage in half at 2-1.
The Hawks looked to regain their two-goal cushion and generated opportunities of their own as the half progressed. Cody Hamilton forced Burchard into a save in the 65th minute before Morris Marshall put another attempt on frame in the 73rd, but the Golden Eagles goalkeeper kept his side within striking distance.
St. Joseph's eventually found its equalizer with just over 10 minutes remaining. Deutsh, who scored the Golden Eagles' opening goal, helped set up Liam McDermott in the 80th minute as the hosts erased the two-goal halftime deficit and leveled the game at two apiece.
SUNY New Paltz continued searching for a late winner, earning a pair of corner kicks down the stretch, but neither side could produce the deciding goal before the final whistle as the Hawks opened the season with a 2-2 draw.
The two sides finished nearly even statistically, with St. Joseph's holding a narrow 10-8 advantage in shots while both teams earned five corner kicks. SUNY New Paltz was efficient with its opportunities, putting six of its eight attempts on target.
Lamour and Weber each opened their season accounts with a goal, while Dhanoolal registered two assists and put both of his shot attempts on frame. Hamilton and Morris Marshall each added a shot on goal, while Washington finished with three saves across the full 90 minutes.
SUNY New Paltz (0-0-1) returns home Friday, Sept. 4, hosting SUNY Delhi at 5 p.m. on North Turf Field.
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