NEW PALTZ, NY – The SUNY New Paltz women's soccer team opened a new chapter in program history Wednesday afternoon, hosting No. 25 Montclair State University in its first-ever New Jersey Athletic Conference contest on its home turf.
The Hawks entered conference play at 4-2 overall and came off a historic 1-0 victory over then-No. 16 William Smith, but the nationally ranked Red Hawks halted their momentum, scoring three times in the opening 19 minutes en route to a 5-0 victory.
SUNY New Paltz generated the first set-piece opportunity of the afternoon, earning a corner less than a minute after kickoff, but Montclair State quickly began applying pressure. Hawks goalkeeper Jess Centeri made her first stop in the fifth minute on an attempt from Isabell Kronow before the Red Hawks broke through at the 10:24 mark.
Shannon Mullins opened the scoring off an assist from Samira Lukovic before Kronow doubled the advantage less than five minutes later. Montclair State struck again in the 19th minute, with Mullins netting her second of the afternoon off another feed from Lukovic to put the visitors ahead, 3-0.
SUNY New Paltz attempted to settle into the game following the early deficit and generated a pair of chances before halftime. Jamie Seccafico forced the Montclair State goalkeeper into a save in the 21st minute before Breanna Casey put another effort on frame in the 42nd. The Hawks also earned three first-half corners as they looked to cut into the deficit.
Centeri helped keep the margin at three through the remainder of the period, making stops on Lukovic and Eelana Walters as the Hawks went into halftime trailing, 3-0.
Montclair State extended its advantage shortly after the restart, finding the back of the net in the 51st minute. SUNY New Paltz continued searching for an answer and put two more attempts on target in the second half, with Mia Dahlhaus and Soledad O'Hara Nunes each testing the visitors.
Mary Lane added her second goal of the game in the 80th minute off an assist from Izzy Matos to close out the scoring.
The Red Hawks held a 16-5 advantage in shots and put 12 attempts on frame compared to four for the Hawks. Montclair State finished with a 5-3 edge in corners, while both teams were whistled for six fouls.
Centeri played all 90 minutes in net and finished with six saves for SUNY New Paltz. Seccafico, Casey, O'Hara Nunes and Dahlhaus each registered a shot on goal for the Hawks.
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