SUNY New Paltz Field Hockey Team Falls 3-2 to Elmira in Season Finale

KINGSTON, NY — Sophomore Nicole Rotolo (Rome, NY) scored two goals to lift Elmira College past SUNY New Paltz, 3-2, this afternoon at Dietz Stadium in the Hawks final game of the season.

Elmira (9-9) lit up the scoreboard first when junior Callie Black (Sanford, ME) fired a shot past Hawks sophomore goalkeeper Erica Engstrom (Montauk, NY) at the 9:03 mark. Just over three minutes later, Rotolo gave the Soaring Eagles a 2-0 lead with her first goal of the game. Rotolo struck again at the 28:18 mark to give Elmira a 3-0 lead heading into halftime.

New Paltz (5-12) cut the deficit to 3-1 just over seven minutes into the second half when sophomore Patricia Erikson (Massapequa Park, NY) received a great pass from sophomore Musu Jackson-Buckner (Buffalo, NY) and put it past Soaring Eagles junior goalkeeper Kindra Catalano (Cortland, NY). The Hawks continued to attack the Elmira defense throughout the second half and Erikson made it a 3-2 game when she found the back of the goal for the second time at the 63:38 mark. However, New Paltz wasn’t able to score the equalizer despite outshooting the Soaring Eagles, 6-5, with all six shots coming in the second half.

Senior Megan Mooney (Essex Junction, VT) and Catalano combined for four saves while Engstrom stopped two shots in the loss.

Scoring: E — Callie Black (unassisted) 9:03. E — Nicole Rotolo (unassisted) 12:24. E — Rotolo (Sarah Dake) 28:18. NP — Patricia Erickson (Musu Jackson-Buckner) 41:47. NP — Erikson (unassisted). 63:38.

Shots: Elmira 5, SUNY New Paltz 6.

Saves: Megan Mooney (Elmira) 0 in 35:00. Kindra Catlano (Elmira) 4 in 35:00. Erica Engstrom (SUNY New Paltz) 2.

Penalty Corners: Elmira 4, SUNY New Paltz 10.