BEVERLY, MA — The SUNY New Paltz field hockey team went toe-to-toe with nationally ranked No. 10 Endicott College Saturday morning, holding a pair of leads before ultimately falling to the Gulls, 3-2.
The Hawks weathered an early offensive surge from Endicott and responded with an impressive opening half, twice jumping in front of the nationally ranked Gulls before a late fourth-quarter goal decided the contest.
Endicott came out firing, forcing SUNY New Paltz goalkeeper Grace Grant into five saves within the opening three minutes. The Hawks' defense held firm through the early pressure before the offense capitalized on its opportunity at the other end.
Ashley McGough forced a save in the 10th minute before quickly following up with the game's opening goal just two seconds later, giving SUNY New Paltz a 1-0 advantage.
Endicott found an answer with just 21 seconds remaining in the first quarter, as Abby Antonelli leveled the score at one.
The Hawks wasted little time regaining the advantage in the second. Following a penalty corner by Lil Schaub, Caydence Parker found Mattie Betts, who put away her first goal of the season just 1:23 into the period to push SUNY New Paltz back in front, 2-1.
The Gulls continued to generate pressure throughout the quarter, but Grant and the Hawks kept the hosts off the board until the final seconds of the half. Endicott was awarded a penalty stroke with eight seconds remaining and converted to send the teams into halftime even at 2-2.
SUNY New Paltz came out of the break searching for its third lead of the afternoon and generated four shots along with two penalty corners in the third quarter. McGough put two attempts on frame, while Maya O'Keefe added another as the Hawks continued pressing for the go-ahead tally, but the game remained tied entering the fourth.
The two sides stayed deadlocked deep into the final period before Endicott broke through in the 56th minute, taking its first lead of the game, 3-2.
The Hawks were unable to find an equalizer over the remaining minutes as the Gulls held on for the narrow victory.
Grant was strong in the cage for SUNY New Paltz, finishing with 11 saves across 60 minutes. McGough paced the Hawks offensively with five shots, three on goal and her first tally of the season, while Betts added a goal and Parker registered an assist.
Endicott finished with a 17-8 advantage in shots and an 11-4 edge in penalty corners, but SUNY New Paltz put five of its eight attempts on target while holding the lead for nearly 20 minutes against the nationally ranked Gulls.
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