ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Junior Erin Clark (Somers, N.Y./Somers) was the offensive spark plug the SUNY Oneonta field hockey team needed Wednesday afternoon. Clark posted a hat trick that included the game-tying goal with 90 seconds left in regulation and the game-winning goal in overtime as Oneonta defeated New Paltz, 3-2. The win puts the Red Dragons to 7-8 in the season and 4-2 in the SUNYAC while the Hawks moved to 9-6 overall and 3-3 in conference. Following the result, Oneonta is now locked in at the three seed in the SUNYAC playoffs.  

New Paltz controlled the ball in their shooting circle for the beginning of the game and had six penalty corner opportunities within the first seven minutes. The Hawks generated three shot attempts out of those corners and were all saved by senior Jennifer Tumino (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place). After 10 minutes of play, Clark and the Red Dragons struck first. Senior Sophia Little (Northport, N.Y./Northport) started the Oneonta transition down the field and eventually got the ball to senior Claire Mahoney (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River). Mahoney dribbled into the corner of the shooting circle and pushed the ball near the frontside of the cage to senior Morgan Fleming (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville) who gave it one more quick pass to Clark for the goal. New Paltz maintained the pressure in the first half but were denied continuously by Tumino and by senior Carly Waszczak (Northport, N.Y./Northport), who had a defensive save before the end of the first period.  

The Hawks tied it at one in the beginning of the third period. Rachel Tama brought the ball into the shooting circle and passed it in front of the goal to Natasia Plunkett who spun around and scored with a reverse shot.  

Not even two minutes into the fourth, the Hawks gave themselves a 2-1 lead. Julia Cummings pushed out a penalty corner to the top of the shooting circle to Hannah Ackerman. Ackerman passed it to the wing of the circle to Shannon Bernhardt who fired off the shot for the goal. As time was starting to tick away, Oneonta set themselves up to take a penalty corner. Waszczak pushed the corner out to Little, who passed it to Clark. From the top of the shooting circle, Clark gripped it and ripped it into the cage to tie the game with a minute and a half remaining to force overtime.  

In overtime, New Paltz's Bernhardt received a yellow card and gave Oneonta a five-minute advantage. Down a player, the Hawks were trying to bring the ball past midfield, however senior Victoria Pixley (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) stole the ball and passed it to junior Michaela Maniscalco (Northport, N.Y./Northport). Maniscalco ran down to the outside of the shooting circle and passed it Clark who managed to hit the ball into the cage while the Hawk's goalie ran up and collided into her.  

Tumino finished the contest with nine saves, while Davin Testo ended with two saves.  

New Paltz outshout Oneonta 13-6 and had a 15-4 advantage on penalty corners.  

The Red Dragons close out the regular season on Saturday when they travel to face Rensselaer at 1 pm.   Read Full Article