Losing to Ramapo College 0-1 in overtime Wednesday afternoon, the women’s soccer team finished its home schedule with two losses last weekend, falling 0-3 to SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh State.
The Hawks move to 2-13-1 on the year, and 1-6-1 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play. They will finish their 2018 campaign this Saturday on the road against SUNY Oneonta.
“I think it was a difficult weekend overall, knowing the investment this group has put into this year’s campaign,” said Hawks head coach Mike Eckberg. “We have great opportunity Saturday. I think it’s always a dangerous position to be in, knowing you could end someone else’s season.”
Falling offsides six times throughout the first half against Ramapo, New Paltz only put three shots on goal in the period. Six saves by second-year goalkeeper Megan Tornatore pushed the Hawks through, keeping the score tied at zero.
New Paltz played their best in the second, putting up three shots on goal compared to the Roadrunners’ four. Although the Hawks were able to rack three corner kicks in the half, they could never find the back of the net. Tornatore held off Ramapo once again, forcing the match into overtime.
Nine minutes into extra time, the Roadrunners found the scoreboard, as third-year forward Erika Signorile came up with the game-winning goal at 1-0 for the Roadrunners.
The loss comes after the Hawks fell twice this past weekend in their last home matches of the season.
Never getting a shot off in the first half of the weekend against Potsdam, third-year goalkeeper Angela Ratka’s seven saves kept New Paltz close, only falling behind 1-0.
The Hawks’ defense worked hard in the second half, holding the Bears to only five shots. Unfortunately, two of those shots found the back of the net.
Potsdam scored twice within three minutes of each other in the half, at 59:32 off a fourth-year midfielder Brooke Falsion goal, and at 62:31 from a fourth-year midfielder Rylie Murray score to increase their lead, 3-0.
The Hawks were out-shot 19-3 throughout the match. The Bears also had nine corner kicks and nine shots on goal, compared to New Paltz’s one shot on goal and no corners in the 0-3 loss.
Hoping to bounce back the following day, the Hawks could not take advantage of Plattsburgh’s five fouls in the first half, as three corner kicks did not result in goals. Ratka grabbed five saves, holding the score at zero into the second.
The Cardinals flipped the switch in the second half, putting 14 shots on goal, compared to New Paltz’s four. At 64:42, third-year forward Katie Matott scored first for Plattsburgh. Two minutes later at 66:30, second-year midfielder Abigail Seamans found the scoresheet again for the Cardinals, establishing a 2-0 lead.
To cap off the match, Plattsburgh scored once again at 88:08, taking a 3-0 lead from a first-year forward and midfielder Kirsten Villemaire goal to seal the match on senior day.
“The seniors left a huge impact. Their hard work, leadership and love for the game never went unnoticed this season,” said third-year forward Nicole Sheintul. “Since we have nothing to lose, we’re amped to end our season against one of our biggest rivals in Oneonta.”
The Hawks return to action Saturday in their last match of the season, when they’ll travel to SUNY Oneonta.
“Last year, Oneonta beat us 8-0, and they laugh at us and don’t respect us,” said fourth-year forward Rachael Purtell. “If we come and knock them out of the SUNYAC tournament for the first time in a number of years, they’ll remember us then.”