New Paltz Falls to Third Ranked Cortland, 3-1

KINGSTON, NY — The SUNY New Paltz field hockey team hosted the nationally third ranked Cortland Red Dragons Saturday afternoon at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, NY. The Hawks dropped to 3-9 on the season and 1-3 in SUNYAC play as they fell to the Red Dragons by a score of 3-1.
Each team had an early scoring chance but had the goal called back as Cortland’s didn’t count because they were outside the arc and New Paltz was denied due to a foot deflection. Cortland took the board first in the 17th minute as Katie Johnson (Elma, NY) tallied her first of the game for the Red Dragons. Ten minutes later, Justine Fairclough (Glen Cove, NY) scored the equalizer for New Paltz off a penalty corner with the assist from Jacqueline Sisco (Wappingers Falls, NY).
Ten minutes into the second half Johnson found lower right back of the cage off a feed from Brit Paulus (Pleasantville, NY) to give Cortland the 2-1 lead. New Paltz had a chance to tie the game when they were awarded four consecutive penalty corners in a span of a minute. But the Hawks couldn’t capitalize as they were shut down but the Red Dragon defense.
Lauren Eichenberger (Suffern, NY) scored an insurance goal for Cortland at 61:53 with the assist being credited to Kristin Courtney (Hyde Park, NY). Eichenberger had a chance to add another goal with less than five minutes remaining but was denied by New Paltz keeper Nicole Kovac (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius).
Kovac finished with five saves in net for the Hawks as Stacy Billings (Marathon, NY) posted three saves for Cortland.
The Hawks will be back in action on Tuesday, October 17 when they travel to Manhattanville.