New Paltz Men’s Soccer Defeats Vassar 4-2 on senior day

NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz men’s soccer defeated cross town rival Vassar College 4-2 Wednesday evening on senior day.

The Hawks Patrick Carlucci (Goshen, NY/Goshen), Ryan Lundgren (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central), Robert Mendes (Mineola, NY/Wheatley) and Chris Hotzak (Smithtown, NY/St. James) played in their final home game in Hawk uniforms.

The Hawks opened the scoring in the tenth minute when Hotzak found Tommy Garafola (Richmond Hill, NY/St. Francis Prep) who ripped a shot top left corner to beat the goalkeeper.

Vassar had a chance to tie the contest in the 22nd minute when Matthew Belli (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) took a shot, but Carlucci made a save to keep the Hawks led at one.

In the 36th minute, Hotzak added his second assist on a touch pass to James Altadonna (Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa) to beat the diving Brewers goalkeeper right corner. The Hawks led 2-0 at the half.

Garafola added his second goal in the 54th minute when Joe Emberger (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C. Ketchum) quick touched the ball to Tommy Willoughby (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) who then found Garafola to increase the led to 3-0.

Vassar had a scoring opportunity in the 69th minute when Ben Scaglione (Elizabethtown, NY/Elizabethtown Lewis) ripped a shot, but Carlucci made a sliding save to hold the Brewers scoreless.

Two minutes later, the Brewers Brett Anker (Stormville, NY/Carmel) fired a shot to the left post, but Carlucci once again made a diving save to keep the game at 3-0.

In the 83rd minute, Nick Lamon (Hewlett, NY/Hewlett) blasted a shot off the Brewers goalkeeper and Joe Rose (Seaford, NY/Seaford) picked up the rebound and found the back of the net for the goal.

Belli put Vassar on the board in the 86th minute when his shot was attempted to be knocked away by the Hawks goalkeeper, but was punched off the post into the back of the net. Ross Macklin (Henniker, NH/John Stark Regional) assisted on the goal.

In the 89th minute, Brian Bianchetti (Tustin, CA/Foothill) ripped a shot to the left corner off the post that came right back to him and put his rebound into the back of the net.

Carlucci made eight saves in net and help improve the Hawks to 7-8-3 overall and 3-6-1 in SUNYAC competition.

Jason Cetel (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) made four saves in net and the Brewers fall to 7-8 overall and 2-5 in the Liberty League.

The Hawks will conclude their season on the road against Skidmore on Friday October 31st at 4 p.m.