NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz men’s soccer team claimed their second consecutive victory with a 7-0 blanking of the Wells Express in a non-conference match-up Sunday afternoon. Seven players scored as the Hawks advance to 4-11-1 overall.
The Hawks dominated the game out-shooting Wells 53-1. New Paltz averaged one shot per minute in the first 12 minutes of action and ripped off 15 before finding the back of the net three times in span of 1:51. Senior Garrett Munro chipped a ball into the upper left corner off an assist from classmates Dan Cocciardi and Greg Foss at the 16:37 mark. Cocciardi then fed Jose Reyes for the 2-0 lead before Justin Thomson picked up the loose ball that Foss deflected off the goalie.
Sophomore Thomas Libardi headed in a corner kick from Chris Hotzak in the 36th minute. Fifty-six seconds later Robert Mendes one touched to Libardi who tapped it out to Jason Irish who put the ball past Wells keeper Mike Birklin for the 5-0 halftime lead.
Mendes tallied a goal of his own in the 61st minute as his shot was deflected off a defenseman to the lower left of the goal. Ian Mayer collected his first collegiate goal in the 70th minute as he blasted a shot from 25 yards out to finish the scoring.
Jeffrey Dudley and Masanori Hotta combined for the shutout in nets. Birklin posted 13 saves in 45 minutes of action before Matt Puglise came in and made eight saves.
Before the start of the game seniors Dudley, Hotta, Paolo Capparelli, Cocciardi, Irish, Foss, Munro, Chris Pendergast, Brian Siergiej, Dan Libardi, and Joe Fabian were recognized for the dedication to the men’s soccer program. Head Coach Stuart Robinson was also honored for his commitment to 15 years of coaching men’s soccer at SUNY New Paltz.
The Hawks will return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Vassar to take on the Brewers in a 3:00 pm game.
