Hawks Battle Red Dragons to Tie
NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz women’s soccer team battled the Red Dragons from Cortland to a 0-0 double overtime tie Saturday afternoon on the Turf Field. Before the game, head coach Colleen Bruley took a couple of minutes to honor the Hawks only senior player. Senior co-captain Rebecca Kafko (Brooklyn/Midwood) played her last conference home game of her career.
The Hawks had the first scoring opportunity in the sixth minute of play when a free kick by Brittany Bennett (Smithtown/Smithtown West) shot was missed played by the Red Dragons keeper. The ball slipped out of her hands, but she scooped it up before Rebecca Kafko could get her foot on it.
The Red Dragons came back in the eighth minute when Stacey Wood’s shot from 30 yards out to the left post was saved by Danielle Gura to keep the game scoreless. Three minute later, a deep turnover in the Hawks zone led to Casey Reinhardt shot that just sailed over the cross bar, as the Hawks dodged a scoring opportunity by Cortland.
In the 17th minute, Cortland was award a free kick deep in the Hawks defensive zone. Maura Martin kick was sent into the box where it found Carly Williams for the header that was covered up by Gura.
The half would end scoreless with Cortland holding a 6-2 shot advantage.
The start of the second half, the rain began to pick-up more as the field became a much slicker surface. The Hawks used great ball control to get the first scoring opportunity of the half. After a foul on the Red Dragons, Shannon Cobb’s (Poughkeepsie/Arlington) shot was heading towards the upper right corner, but Pam Monnier made a great save and knocked the ball away in the 57th minute.
Cortland in the 65th minute nearly put one into the back of the net, but Gura came out with a diving stop on Jackie De Luise shot after receiving a through ball from Reinhardt.
Gura made another outstanding diving save in with five minute remaining in regulation when Jordan Miller shot was heading to the left corner.
The Hawks had the last scoring opportunity in regulation in 87th minute, when Bennett took the free kick about 35 yards out and her shot was just over the cross bar.
In the first overtime session, Cortland had a chance with 20 second remaining when Bridgette DeSantis came down the right side and her shot hit the cross bar and was cleared away by the defender.
In the 106th minute, the Red Dragons DeSantis crossed the ball from the left corner over Gura’s head to the right six yard box. Jenn Fox was wide open with an open goal, but could not take advantage and her shot was wide left of the post.
Pam Monnier earned her sixth shutout of the season while making three saves. Cortland improves to 10-4-2 overall and 4-3-2 in the SUNYAC.
Danielle Gura (Oceanside) earned her first shutout of season while making a nine saves on the afternoon. New Paltz improves to 4-8-5 overall and 1-6-2 in the SUNYAC. The Hawks finish their 2009 season with a home game against Bard College at 3:00 p.m. on Alumni Field.