NEW PALTZ, N.Y. -- The Oneonta field hockey team came up short against New Paltz in SUNYAC play, 3-1, Saturday afternoon. The team trailed in the third period before sophomore
Marissa Stephan (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) tied the match, then New Paltz took the game with two goals in the final quarter. Senior
Maura Leib (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse Minoa) tied her career-high and set a season-high with 19 saves as the Red Dragons moved to 7-3 on the season, 1-1 in conference play, and the Hawks improved to 7-4 overall and 2-0 in the SUNYAC.
Leib was busy early and made a few stops in the opening minutes of the match, while junior
Abigail Draper (Remsen, NY/Holland Patent) helped her with a defensive save, but New Paltz still managed to find the back of the cage with a shot from Miranda Britton at 5:12 in the first period.
Junior
Alexandra Howell (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) had the first two shots on goal for Oneonta in the first minute of the second quarter then again at 35:51 in the third period, however the Hawks goalie, Gail Comiskey, made both stops.
The Red Dragons got on the board and tied the match at 40:11 in the third, when Stephan scored her first goal of the season. The sophomore got the ball from senior
Molly Miller (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) on the right side of the field, then she entered the shooting circle from the corner and ripped a shot over a charging Comiskey into the far side of the cage.
At 52:11 in the final quarter, Rachel Tama regained the lead for New Paltz with an assist from Meghan Gunning. Oneonta had a penalty corner at 54:20 where Draper got the ball at the top of the shooting arc for a shot, but it was stopped by the Hawks. Britton added an insurance score to New Paltz's lead at 57:49 for the 3-1 final.
Cominsky finished with three saves for the Hawks.
New Paltz outshot Oneonta 30-4 in total shots, 23-4 on net, and they held an 8-4 advantage in penalty corners.
The Red Dragons are back in action on Wednesday, October 8, for a non-conference match against Skidmore at 4 pm on All College Field.
