NEW PALTZ — For the second straight week, SUNY New Paltz field hockey player Liz Clarke has been selected as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Field Hockey Goalkeeper of the Week.
Clarke, a freshman from Stone Ridge, NY, made just three saves in Saturday’s 2-1, double-overtime, penalty stroke loss at Wells College, but made 26 saves in a 2-0 loss at SUNY Oswego on Friday.
Saturday’s loss was dominated offensively by the (1-10) Hawks, who outshot Wells, 50-6, and held a 20-3 advantage on penalty corners. The game remained tied 1-1 through two overtime periods, and Wells earned a team goal – and the win – for taking the ensuing penalty strokes by a 3-1 margin.
On Friday, the game was scoreless for the first 58 ½ minutes, and the Lakers’ second goal was added late, with only six seconds left in regulation. It marked the second-most saves in a game for Clarke in her short collegiate career. Her 29 saves in a 5-1 loss at Drew University on September 12 was her personal-best total, as well as a New Paltz record.
As a result of her two performances, Clarke lowered her goals-against average from 4.88 to 4.03 – a significant (0.85) drop this far into the season.
A 2000 Rondout Valley High graduate, Clarke is a former All-New York State Public High School Athletic Association (1999) selection and a three-time Mid-Hudson Athletic League Field Hockey All-Star (1997-99).
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Note to editors: Photos of Liz Clarke can be downloaded from the SUNY New Paltz web site at http://www.newpaltz.edu/news/images/clarke.html.
