The women’s lacrosse team found their winning ways again on Tuesday, March 27 against Bard College, winning 15-5 and improving to 4-2 before State University of New York (SUNYAC) conference play.
After a spring break trip that resulted in two losses, the Hawks jumped on the board early against Bard with an unassisted goal from third-year attacker Taylor Russell within the first two minutes. With the score at 3-2 in the 20th minute of the first half, New Paltz went on a scoring frenzy, putting up three goals in less than two minutes. They would finish the half up top 10-3.
Unassisted goals from fourth-year attacker Kayla Massena and third-year midfielder Rachael Purtell opened up the second half for New Paltz to make it 12-3. A 16 save effort from second-year goalie Nicole Sheintul resulted in a despaired offensive effort by the Raptors, who never found momentum in the game.
“Going into Bard, we were really working on cleaning everything up so once conference games start we go into them strong,” said fourth-year attacker Caitlyn Morris. “This team has a lot of fight in it, and we aren’t going to give up.”
First-year attacker Amy Hofer led the Hawks offense with four goals and an assist. First-year midfielder Keydy Espinoza, Massena and Purtell all had hat tricks with three goals, while Russell had two of her own. Morris dubbed three assists in the win.
Bard’s offense was led by Witte, who had a hat trick of her own.
The win comes after two losses against Stockton University and Roanoke College. On March 19 against Stockton, the Hawks fell down late in the first half 6-2. A goal from third-year midfielder Ashley Seiter assisted by first-year attacker Tara Bovich put New Paltz back 6-3 at the end of the half, while a goal from Bovich opened up the second and put the Hawks closer at 6-4.
Six straight goals from the Ospreys broke the game open for Stockton, resulting in a 5-12 loss for the Hawks.
Second-year midfielder Emily Puciloski, Hofer, Bovich, Massena and Seiter each scored once for New Paltz.
Second-year midfielder Kristen Russo’s hat trick led the offensive efforts for Stockton, who also had two-goal games from second-year attacker Michaella Butrico and first-year attacker and midfielder Danielle Graham.
Although the Hawks fell to an early 0-6 deficit against Roanoke, they fought back to bring the score to 5-6 with two goals from Bovich before the eighth minute of the first period.
Entering the second half down three, New Paltz tied the game at 10 with goals from Puciloski and Hofer. Three unanswered goals from the Maroons proved to be too much for the Hawks, who dropped the decision 11-15.
“Our two games over spring break were definitely great competition for us and I think we’ve learned a lot from the challenges they brought,” Bovich said. “I think we’re growing from these losses by watching more film to see how we let up opportunities, and walking through different offensive motions for SUNYACs.”
The Hawks will open up their SUNYAC schedule when they face SUNY Cortland this Saturday.
“We need to make sure we’re running on all cylinders,” said head coach Keith Detelj. “The team has been preparing well, and we’ll see how we stack up in the SUNYAC.”