Box Score

                  POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 31, 2013) – New Paltz sophomore forward Dani Ackerman had a goal and three assists to lead the Hawks past the Vassar College field hockey team 5-1 in non-conference action from Weinberg Field Thursday afternoon.

                  The loss ends the regular season for the Brewers (11-6), who will now set their sights on their first Liberty League Tournament game ever against Skidmore College next Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Saratoga Springs, NY.

                  Little went right for the hosts Thursday, as New Paltz (11-7) jumped on Vassar from the start. Just 3:27 into the contest, Kayla McKeveny took a pass from Ackerman and tucked it inside the left post to give NP an early 1-0 lead.  Vassar would have an extended period of pressure through the middle part of the first half, but Antonija Pjetri made four saves to keep Vassar off the scoreboard.

                  Just before halftime New Paltz doubled its advantage, as Danielle Conklin scored her 20^th of the season with help from Ackerman. After the intermission, NP extended the score out to 3-0, as Conklin again was fed from Ackerman for a strike. Ackerman netted her goal moments later, and Erin Landy tallied at the 43:29 mark to make the score 5-0.

                  The Brewers would get on the board with less than 17 minutes to play on an extraordinary goal from sophomore Bianca Zarrella (Leominster, MA/Leominster). Zarrella dribbled up the left sideline, weaved through defenders only to switch hands from near the end line and flick her shot over Pjetri for the score.

                  Vassar would pressure a few more times, but couldn't get back into the contest in falling to New Paltz for the fifth consecutive time. The Hawks outshot their hosts 17-14 on the afternoon, and both teams earned eight penalty corners. Senior Maggie Brelis (Cambridge, MA/BB&N) made three saves, while junior defender Hilary McDonnell (Blue Bell, PA/The Springside School) chalked up her first defensive save of the season. Pjetri made eight saves in cage for New Paltz.

                  Senior midfielder Anna Schroeder (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) took four shots on the evening, two being put on cage, while Zarrella and Enya Cunningham (Stroudburg, PA/Stroudburg) each had three shots apiece. Conklin had a game-high five shots for the Hawks.