The Women’s soccer team began a four-game road trip against State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponents last week.
On Friday, Oct. 2, the Hawks were shutout by SUNY Geneseo 3-0.
The Knights put a goal on the board early as third-year midfielder Emily Green netted a penalty kick in the 25th minute to take a 1-0 lead.
A minute later, Knights extended the lead to 2-0 with a goal by second-year forward Leah Greene.
The Knights sealed the 3-0 win in the 80th minute when third-year midfielder Carolanne Murphy rebounded a header shot.
Geneseo outshot the Hawks, 22-3, but the teams held an even advantage in corner kicks, 4-4.
Second-year defender Monica Rouse, third-year co-Captain Sloane Lipshie and third-year midfielder Skye Kaler each tallied a shot for the Hawks. Rouse’s shot in the 59th minute was New Paltz’s first of the game, saved by Geneseo’s first-year goalkeeper Emily Janiszewski.
Third-year goalkeeper Mikaela Stiklickas recorded a game-high nine saves in net for the Hawks.
Hawks Head Coach Colleen Bruley said the Hawks did not convert on their scoring opportunities and had to replace two starters due to injury within the first 10 minutes of the game.
“We did not come out of that feeling good,” Bruley said. “In the past couple of games, if we give up a goal, we have given up one right after as well. And that was really frustrating, We know we needed to make a change and figure something out. We talked and made a drastic change to our back four.”
The following day, the Hawks earned their first tie of the season in a 0-0 double overtime game against The College at Brockport.
The Hawks have not finished in a 0-0 tie after double overtime since Oct. 26, 2013 against Buffalo State.
Stiklickas, who posted her second shutout of the season, kept 12 shots out of the goal.
In the 97th minute during the first overtime period, Brockport’s third-year midfielder Ashley Makowski unleashed a point-blank shot that Stiklickas sent wide of the net to keep the score deadlocked at 0-0.
Despite the lack of goals, Brockport held a slight 19-18 edge in shots, while New Paltz finished with a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Individually, Hawks fourth-year co-Captain Kristina Gandolfo led the team in shots with four, two of which were on goal.
Bruley said the team went into Brockport in much better spirits and knew they needed to get something out of that game.
“They went in and they worked their butts off and I was extremely proud of them,” she said. “To go and lose like we did against Geneseo and then be able to come back and play that well the following day I was very, very proud of them. We were very excited for them. We changed defensive formation, which changed how we played as well, and it gave us more offense.”
The Hawks are looking to score their first goal since they faced Ramapo College on Sept. 9.
Fourth-year co-Captain Allie Festa said the team trains hard and goes into practice with a game-like mindset.
“We are constantly working on our defensive shape and getting forward with the ball,” she said. “We come to practice ready to play and never give anything less than 100 percent.”
While the Hawks currently have a 2-9-1 overall record, the team has a 1-2-1 record in conference play. The Hawks will close out their four-game road trip in conference matchups against SUNY Plattsburgh on Friday, Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. and SUNY Potsdam the following day at 1 p.m.
Last season, the Hawks earned shutout wins against both teams.
Festa said traveling to Plattsburgh early in the morning on gameday and then to get off the bus and play will be a challenge, but she believes the team is capable.
“There are no excuses, because all SUNYAC teams have to travel, just like us,” she said. “We get there and it’s game time. No ifs, ands or buts.”
