No. 23 New Paltz Edges Field Hockey, 5-4

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott field hockey team fell to nationally ranked No. 23 New Paltz, 5-4, in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at North Field.

The Hawks got out to a 1-0 lead but Tori Swanson (Farmington, Conn.) tied the game off a feed from Reagan Hicks (Barnstable, Mass.). New Paltz responded 37 seconds later to take a 2-1 lead headed to the second quarter.

The visitors gained a two-goal advantage less than a minute into the second quarter as the Gulls scored the next three to take a 4-3 lead five minutes before halftime. Hicks cut the lead to one following a successful penalty stroke and Swanson tied it a three apiece with the assist coming from Lily Farnham (Andover, Mass.). Casey Halliday (Monroe, Conn.) gave Endicott its first lead of the day off a corner play with Farnham also finding her, but New Paltz potted one shortly before halftime and tying the game at four apiece heading to the break.  

Out of halftime, New Paltz outshot the Gulls 9-4 in the third quarter and scored a fifth goal that was the eventual game-winner. 

In goal, Alexis DeMattia (Methuen, Mass.) made five saves in the loss (2-3) in over 38 minutes of action. Faith Minickene (Madison, Conn.) finished the last 22 minutes with 11 saves.