NEW PALTZ, NY – The State University of New York New Paltz field hockey team defended home turf in another ranked test Saturday, taking down No. 23 Ithaca in a complete team victory to secure its first ranked win since 2024.
It was an even battle throughout four hard-fought quarters, with the statistics as close as they could be. SUNY New Paltz outshot Ithaca, 11-10, with both teams putting eight shots on frame. The Bombers held a 7-5 advantage in penalty corners, but the Hawks were led by first-year goalkeeper Kate Comiskey, who shined in her first collegiate start. Comiskey collected seven saves, including a pivotal stop in the final minute to put the game on ice.
Offensively, SUNY New Paltz looked to junior Ashley McGough, who accounted for both Hawks goals in the second quarter to lift her squad over its nationally ranked foe.
In their second consecutive ranked matchup and fourth this season, the Hawks once again matched up against some of the nation's best talent. The Bombers entered play 5-1, including a 2-0 win over No. 21 Haverford, with their only loss coming against Cortland in overtime on the road.
SUNY New Paltz came out determined, setting the tone with early pressure and picking up its first penalty corner just 2:12 into the contest. First-year Caydence Parker generated the first two looks of the afternoon, but both were stopped by Ithaca.
The Bombers quickly headed the other way and answered with their first shot on frame in the same minute, but Comiskey collected the first save of her collegiate start to clear the early test.
Fouls piled up as both squads fought for an edge, with possession difficult to maintain as each defense imposed its will. Ithaca looked to break through at the 7:03 mark, but senior defender Gabriella Barth stifled the opportunity and was credited with a defensive save.
SUNY New Paltz used the final five minutes of the quarter to get its offense back into action after the early pressure, working its way into Bomber territory with purpose. At the 12-minute mark, McGough and Lil Schaub forced the Ithaca keeper into saves, resulting in another Hawks corner. Schaub sent another shot on frame followed by a second effort from Samantha Torres, but the Ithaca defense survived the attack as the first quarter ended scoreless.
The Hawks did not let the short intermission slow their momentum, as first-year forward Abigail Bozzanca generated a shot in the opening minute of the second quarter, but her attempt went wide.
Ithaca threatened five minutes into the period, earning a corner before Audrey McMahon sent a shot on target that found the pads of Comiskey.
Coach Szablinski's squad worked its way back into opposing territory and finally saw its efforts rewarded, earning a penalty stroke nine minutes into the quarter. McGough stepped up to the spot and delivered, sinking the attempt into the far side of the cage to give SUNY New Paltz a 1-0 lead over the nation's 23rd-ranked team.
The Hawks kept the pressure on and caught the Bombers on their back foot, earning a penalty corner less than a minute after McGough's opening goal. Another Ithaca foul resulted in another SUNY New Paltz corner, and McGough capitalized in the circle once again, deflecting Sophia Bronzi's shot up and into the cage for her second goal of the afternoon and a 2-0 Hawks advantage.
The nationally ranked Bombers made sure they would not go quietly, coming out of halftime with renewed pressure. Comiskey picked up her first save of the half just four minutes into the third quarter as Ithaca controlled possession early.
SUNY New Paltz eventually earned a corner after holding off the Bomber attack, but Parker's ensuing attempt went wide for the Hawks' lone shot of the quarter.
The teams continued battling for possession as an exchange of fouls ate away at the clock. Ithaca threatened again midway through the period, earning a corner and putting another shot on frame, but Comiskey stood tall with another stop.
The Bombers maintained their pressure and earned a penalty stroke at the 8:49 mark, converting the opportunity to cut the SUNY New Paltz advantage to 2-1. The intensity went up another notch as time ticked away, but neither side generated another offensive statistic for the remainder of the third quarter.
With 15 minutes remaining, Ithaca pushed everything forward in search of an equalizer. Two early penalty corners and a shot were denied by the Hawks and their young goalkeeper as SUNY New Paltz stayed composed and battled together through the final frame.
The fight for possession grew increasingly desperate as the clock dwindled in the physical affair. No. 23 Ithaca generated two more corner attempts with seven minutes remaining, but the Hawks defense smothered the Bombers and prevented either opportunity from producing a shot.
Ithaca managed one final dangerous chance in the closing minute, working the ball into Hawks territory and nearly finding the equalizer on a redirect. Comiskey's positioning was nearly perfect, however, as the first-year keeper took away the sliver of space and cleared the attempt to preserve the lead.
The clock hit zeroes and SUNY New Paltz had secured a pivotal victory behind a complete team performance, knocking off a nationally ranked opponent for the first time this season.
The Hawks last defeated a ranked opponent Sept. 18, 2024, when they edged No. 25 Stevens on the road, 5-4. Earlier that same season, SUNY New Paltz defeated another No. 23-ranked Ithaca squad, taking down the Bombers in double overtime, 3-2, on North Turf Sept. 7.
Saturday's victory handed Ithaca its first regulation loss of the season, while SUNY New Paltz's two-goal second quarter marked the most goals the Bombers have conceded in a single quarter this season.
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