HOBOKEN, NJ – The State University of New York New Paltz field hockey team faced another nationally ranked test Wednesday afternoon, going toe-to-toe with No. 9 Stevens before narrowly falling to the Ducks, 2-1.
The Hawks battled the nationally ranked hosts even through the opening 45 minutes, answering an early Stevens goal with a second-quarter equalizer from Caydence Parker. Goalkeeper Grace Grant helped keep New Paltz within striking distance throughout the afternoon, finishing with 16 saves as the Ducks held advantages in shots and penalty corners.
Stevens immediately applied pressure, earning two penalty corners within the opening four minutes. Grant made her first save of the afternoon shortly after, before turning away another attempt in the eighth minute. The Ducks eventually broke through seconds later, as Jenna Piantieri found the cage off an assist from Taylor Brooks to give Stevens a 1-0 advantage at the 7:55 mark.
New Paltz settled in defensively and kept the deficit at one through the remainder of the opening quarter, with Grant adding another save in the 14th minute.
The Hawks began finding their footing offensively in the second quarter. Ashley McGough put New Paltz's first shot on frame in the 19th minute before the Hawks earned a penalty corner less than a minute later. Parker followed with a blocked attempt as New Paltz continued looking for the equalizer.
After Grant turned away another Stevens opportunity, the Hawks capitalized on their third penalty corner of the afternoon. McGough connected with Parker, who found the back of the cage at the 27:01 mark, pulling New Paltz even at 1-1 heading toward halftime.
Stevens increased its pressure coming out of the break, recording nine shots in the third quarter, but Grant and the Hawks' defensive unit refused to break. Grant stopped all five shots on goal she faced in the period to preserve the deadlock and send the game into the fourth quarter tied at one.
The Ducks finally regained the lead at the 48:11 mark when Jess Kopernick converted off an assist from Kylee Scherer. SUNY New Paltz continued battling to stay within a goal, with Grant making three more saves over the final period, but the Hawks could not generate the equalizer before time expired.
Grant finished with 16 saves across 60 minutes in the cage, while Parker accounted for two of New Paltz's three shots and scored the Hawks' lone goal. McGough recorded the assist and added New Paltz's other shot on goal.
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