ASHLAND, VA – The State University of New York New Paltz field hockey team wrapped up its trip to Virginia with its second game in as many days, taking down Randolph-Macon in an overtime thriller Sunday morning.
After a Saturday showdown against the No. 1 team in the country in Christopher Newport, the Hawks faced a quick turnaround and delivered in dramatic fashion. The host Yellow Jackets finished with three more shots and four more penalty corners, but it was SUNY New Paltz that produced the most crucial attempt of the game, finding the winner just 37 seconds into overtime.
It was a physical start to the contest as the teams exchanged fouls before Ashley McGough put the first shot of the game on target at the 6:18 mark, but her attempt found the pads of the Randolph-Macon goalkeeper. The hosts soon settled in and began to control possession, earning their first penalty corner at the 9:01 mark before sending an attempt wide 20 seconds later.
With less than five minutes remaining in the opening quarter, Randolph-Macon put its first two attempts on target through Penelope Trageser, but Hawks goalkeeper Grace Grant stuffed the initial chance and the ensuing rebound six seconds later. The Yellow Jackets generated a third attempt during the sequence, but sent it wide to end the threat.
After being limited to McGough's lone attempt in the first, SUNY New Paltz formulated its most productive offensive stretch of the game in the second quarter, totaling eight shots.
McGough started the push before the Hawks earned their first penalty corner in the same minute, leading to a look from Caydence Parker that went just wide. With momentum on their side, the Hawks continued searching for the breakthrough. Junior captain Sophia Bronzi helped earn another penalty corner, and SUNY New Paltz generated a second off the initial attempt. Parker put the first ensuing shot on cage before Samantha Torres followed with another, but both were turned away.
The pressure finally paid off six minutes into the second quarter when first-year forward Abigail Bozzanca broke the stalemate to put the Hawks ahead, 1-0. SUNY New Paltz nearly doubled its advantage just 33 seconds later, with Torres and Emily Sepcura each getting a look at goal but failing to get past the Yellow Jackets' goalkeeper.
Randolph-Macon showed life late in the quarter, putting an attempt on cage 11 minutes in, but Grant was there for the stop. With 29 seconds remaining before halftime, the Yellow Jackets earned a penalty corner and attempted to create one final chance, but the Hawks' defense denied the opportunity to preserve the one-goal advantage at the break.
SUNY New Paltz came out quickly in the third, generating a penalty corner and attempts from Parker and Maya O'Keefe within the opening two minutes, but neither found the back of the cage.
Randolph-Macon answered with pressure of its own, earning a penalty corner that resulted in another stop by Grant. The hosts later collected three penalty corners in the span of a minute, threatening for the equalizer, but strong team defense from the Hawks silenced all three opportunities without allowing a shot as SUNY New Paltz carried its 1-0 lead into the fourth.
The Yellow Jackets increased the pressure to begin the final quarter, with Olivia Greene putting a shot on cage just 1:14 in, but Grant turned it away. Three minutes later, the hosts returned with another chance off a penalty corner, but Grant and the Hawks again cleared the danger.
Randolph-Macon continued to press as Grant secured her eighth save of the afternoon with eight minutes remaining. Two minutes later, the Yellow Jackets earned another penalty corner and Janne Roelink put an attempt on cage. Grant made the initial stop, but Randolph-Macon earned another corner and finally broke through, with Roelink finding the equalizer with 5:30 remaining in regulation.
A penalty corner with less than five minutes to play was all the offense the Hawks could muster down the stretch, and neither side found the winner before the end of regulation, sending the game into overtime tied at one.
Randolph-Macon quickly generated the first opportunity of the extra period, but sent its attempt wide. SUNY New Paltz immediately worked its way to the other end and made swift work of the Yellow Jackets' defense. The Hawks earned a penalty corner and Caydence Parker delivered the game-winner just 37 seconds into overtime, sealing the 2-1 victory.
After facing the nation's No. 1 team less than 24 hours earlier, the Hawks responded with a complete team effort to secure a hard-fought road victory over Randolph-Macon. SUNY New Paltz continues its challenging non-conference slate Wednesday when it takes on nationally ranked No. 8 Stevens.
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