Hawks’ Women’s Soccer Collect Win Over Buffalo

By Monica D’Ippolito

BUFFALO – The winning streak was extended to six thanks to three unanswered second half goals for the State University of New York New Paltz Saturday.

After hosting Buffalo State (8-7 overall, 5-2 SUNYAC) took the initial lead, the Hawks (11-2-2, 6-0-1) answered with three straight goals to earn a 3-1 win and hold onto the top spot on the SUNYAC standings alongside rival SUNY Cortland.

SUNY New Paltz dominated throughout the game, garnering more shots (18-5), shots on target (10-2) and corners (11-0) than the hosts, but struggled to capitalize on chances early.

Buffalo State struck first in the 53rd minute to get out in front. SUNY New Paltz quickly rebounded, as Brooke Kelleher checked back into the game. Four minutes after the Bengals took the lead, Kelleher subbed in and quickly fed a pass to Hawks leading scorer Rachel Eisert who did the rest, finishing on her 12th of the year to knot the score at ones.

SUNY New Paltz kept Buffalo State on its heels, as Mia Baldinger and Laney Schmitz each laid shots on net to no avail. Eisert had another look off a corner in the 68th minute, but the attempt was saved. Five minutes later, the Hawks earned another set piece off their ninth corner of the day. Schmitz got the first look, but the Hawks made sure not to let the ball out of their defensive third, as Gaby Treble capitalized for her 11th of the year in what ended as the game-winner.

Abby Dolge checked in two minutes later and the junior transfer gave her team a two-goal cushion after she scored her second of the season in the 79th minute all but solidifying the win.

Eisert led the team with five shots, four on goal with the game-tying score in 79 minutes.

Treble followed with three shots, two on target, with the game-winner in 72 minutes.

Schmitz played the full 90 and added three shots, while Dolge had two shots and a goal, in 46 minutes off the bench. Alexis DeLeo also chipped in with two shots in 90 minutes of action, while Baldinger had two shots in 55 minutes.

Maddie Franklin saw limited action in 90 minutes of play, finishing with one save while earning her 10th win of the year.

SUNY New Paltz has two games left on the season, both in SUNYAC play. It travels to SUNY Oneonta Wednesday for a 3 p.m. match before concluding the regular season at home against SUNY Oswego on South Turf Field Saturday at 1 p.m.