NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz field hockey team dropped a heartbreaker, 2-1 to the visiting Cougars from Kean University Tuesday evening on the Turf Field.
Brittany Gibbs scored her 14th goal of the season to give the Cougars the 1-0 advantage 58 seconds into the contest. Gibbs worked the give and go with Lauren Kusik and Kusik was able to get her pass through the Hawks to defenders to find Gibbs on the left side of the cage.
The Hawks nearly tied the contest in the third minute when Schloss pass was just out of the reach of Kristen Bergmann who would have been one-on-one with the goalie.
The Hawks would score five minutes later with Sarah Schloss’s seventh goal of the season when she came down the right side of the field, beating two defenders and scored to tie the contest at 1-1.
In the 26th minute, Maryana Organidis shot was deflected into the air and almost over the head of the Cougars goalie, but Alexa Barry knocked it away.
Kean nearly scored off a corner when Erica Kelly found Gibbs on the left side of the cage, but her shot was turned away by Elizabeth Tong.
Kean held a 5-2 advantage in shots and 5-1 in corners in the first half.
Schloss nearly gave the Hawks the lead when Alyssa Finck found her on the right side of the cage, but her shot was just wide in the 44th minute.
With 55 seconds remaining, the Hawks were awarded a corner. Kristen Bergmann pass came out to Finck who found Schloss for the shot, but was denied by Barry. The rebound was gathered by Lauren Nicomini and her shot sailed just wide of the far post for the Hawks.
Gibbs would score the game winner 54 seconds into the overtime when a failed clear by the defender led to her 15th goal of the season.
Alexa Barry recorded the win in net, saving two shots. Kean improves to 8-1 on the season.
Elizabeth Tong recorded the loss in net, saving six shots. New Paltz falls to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the SUNYAC. The Hawks return to the field Saturday against Oneonta on the Turf Field at 1 p.m.
