Hawks Battle Union to 1-1 Tie
NEW PALTZ, NY- The Union College Dutchmen rallied late in the second half to battle the Hawks to a 1-1 double overtime tie. Head coach Eric Watson said “It was very difficult to give up a late goal, but we did not fold as a team. We came back and had several chances for the game winner, but could not find the back of the net. I am proud of my team for battling against a really good team for 110 minutes and never giving up.”
New Paltz had the first chance in the 16th minute when Mike Santalesa (New Hyde Park/St. Francis Prep) corner was headed by Anton Shipman (Howard Beach/Molloy) to the left post, but a diving save by Mike Szczesniak kept the game tied.
Tom Viscardi (Lake Ronkonkoma/Sachem North) made a diving save in the 31st minute when Kevin Giron set-up Craig Santagelo off a corner.
In the 33rd minute, Joe Emberger (Poughkeepsie/Roy C. Ketcham) cleared a ball from the middle of the field that set-up Jimmy Altadonna (Massapequa/Massapequa) 1-on-1 with the keeper, but tried to pass to Evan Martel (West Sayville/Sayville) and it was cleared away by a defender.
The Hawks and Dutchmen played to a scoreless half and the Hawks held a slight 5-4 shot advantage after 45 minutes.
Sahr Nyuma crossed the ball into the middle of the box to Tim Pryor whose headed sailed over the cross bar in the 46th minute.
New Paltz had a scoring opportunity in the 56th minute when Frank Tloczkowski (New Hyde Park/New Hyde Park Memorial) played a through ball to Altadonna who headed it to Lucas Natel (Mineola/Mineola). Natel came 1-on-1 with the keeper but sailed his shot wide right.
The Hawks would net the first goal in the 70th minute when Natel headed the ball by the defensive to Altadonna who came in on the left side and beat the keeper to the right corner for his eighth goal of the season. It was Natel’s fourth assist of the season.
Union nearly tied the game in the 77th minute when a goal kick was sent back into the middle of the field and Jack Scott came 1-on-1 with Viscardi. Scott sailed his shot wide left as the Hawks dodged a late opportunity by the Dutchmen.
Minutes later, Union came back when Kyle Riter cross from the left corner was stopped by the diving Viscardi to stop the attack of the Dutchmen.
With 5:56 remaining in the game, Union got the equalizer when Giron’s cross found Nyuma who ripped the shot into the upper right corner.
New Paltz came right back a minute later when Santalesa’s shot was just wide left of the post after receiving the cross from Natel.
Tommy Garafola (Richmond Hill/St. Francis Prep) gave the Hawks a late opportunity with two and a half minutes left, but Santalesa sent his shot wide right of the post. After the end of regulation, New Paltz held a 10-9 shot advantage.
It was New Paltz in the first overtime session that had the chance to win the game when a missed played ball by the Union keeper led to Santalesa’s shot being stopped by a defender from going into the goal.
With 1:50 remaining the first overtime, Union’s Brendan Steiner throw in set-up Scott for the one-timer, but it was blocked by Shipman.
A minute and half into the second overtime, it was Steiner again with a big throw in to set-up Pryor for the shot, but Viscardi was there to make the save.
The last four minutes, the Hawks had two opportunities for the game winner. In the 106th minute, Santalesa played a nice ball to Altadonna whose touch was taken away by Szczesniak. With 1:40 remaining, Garafola played a ball from the middle of the box to Santalesa on the left side of the box, but a one-handed save by Szczesniak saved the game for Union.
Mike Szczesniak made four stops in the game to earn the tie in net. Union improves to 8-3-1 overall.
Tom Viscardi made five saves in net to earn the tie. New Paltz improves to 6-6-2 overall and 1-5-0 in the SUNYAC. The Hawks return to the field Saturday against Skidmore at 1 p.m. on Alumni Field.