Men’s Soccer Splits Weekend

NEW PALTZ — In two much needed games this weekend against Brockport and Geneseo, the Men’s Soccer Team ended up with a split. The Hawks defeated Brockport 3-2 on Friday and lost to Geneseo on Saturday 3-2.

The match against Brockport saw the Hawks fall behind 6:39 into the game on a goal from Matt Abgarian. Adam Ellis (Fairfield, ME) tied it up with eleven minutes to go in the half on a left-footed volley from eighteen yards out. Six minutes into the second half, Brockport’s Matt Waddington found the net making it a 2-1 game. Hawk goalkeeper Kevin Smith (Niskayuna, NY) got a hand on the shot but was unable to keep it out. Mario Lavacca (Port Washington, NY) tied the score at two less than five minutes later on a blast from twenty yards out. After losing a man due to an ejection, New Paltz was forced to play the last twenty-five minutes of the game shorthanded. The Hawks continued to trade chances with Brockport though and finally broke through at the 70:00 mark with a rocket just inside the eighteen-yard box from John D’Eredita (Lagrange, NY). New Paltz withstood a flurry of Golden Eagle chances late to preserve the victory. Smith ended the game for the Hawks with fifteen saves.

On Saturday, Geneseo struck on their first chance on goal scoring on a corner kick just 4:22 into the game. New Paltz responded with a thirty-five yard drive from Lavacca six minutes later. The Hawks continued to pressure Geneseo’s goal and took a 2-1 lead on a goal from in close by Guido Tiberia (Manhasset, NY). Geneseo’s Eric Lauricella struck twice though five minutes from the end of the first half and five minutes into the second to give the Knights an insurmountable 3-2 lead. Geneseo outshot New Paltz 17-10 in the game and Kevin Smith had five saves.