SCHNECTADY, NY — The SUNY New Paltz men s soccer team earned their first win of the season with a 4-3 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this afternoon on the final day of the Union Classic.
Senior Mario Lavacca (Port Washington, NY) began the offensive explosion for the Hawks when he received a pass from junior Brian Smith (Washingtonville, NY) and scored on a breakaway at the 12:52 mark. RPI (2-1) tied the game at 1-1 on a breakaway goal of their own by senior Chris Bohren (Hopewell Junction, NY) at 22:06. The Red Hawks took a 2-1 lead at the 33-minute mark when sophomore Ed Sellitto (Hauppauge, NY) put one past the Hawks junior goalkeeper Brendan Morris (Hopewell Junction, NY). Junior Eric Jacob (Clifton, VA) notched an assist on both RPI goals.
New Paltz (1-2-1) tied the game at 2-2 just ten minutes into the second half when freshman Chris Smith (Washingtonville, NY) made the most of a free kick and scored on the Red Hawks sophomore netminder Greg Goehle (Selden, NY). The Hawks took the lead for good when Lavacca recorded his second goal of the game at the 83:00 mark off a corner kick from junior Chris Daly (Washingtonville, NY). Freshman Joe Fabian (Selden, NY) took a pass from junior Tom McCauley (Holbrook, NY) and scored a breakaway goal which gave New Paltz a 4-2 lead at 87:30. His goal turned out to be the game-winner after junior Mike Biggs (Cobleskill, NY) set up junior Nick Tsafos (Lake Grove, NY) whose goal sliced the RPI deficit to 4-3 with just two minutes remaining in the game.
Morris made eight saves for the Hawks and Goehle made two saves for RPI. New Paltz takes to the road again when they play at State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) rival Plattsburgh on Friday (Sept. 19) at 4:00 pm.
