NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The top-seeded New Paltz field hockey team captured its first SUNYAC title and earned an NCAA tournament automatic berth with a shootout victory over third-seeded Cortland after the teams played to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two overtime periods. New Paltz won the shootout, 2-0, to earn a "team goal" and a 2-1 victory.

With the loss, Cortland completes the season with a 9-8 record and will most likely have its streak of 13 straight NCAA appearances snapped. New Paltz, which defeated Cortland for the first time in 15 games since starting its program in 2000, improves to 16-4.

Cortland led 1-0 at halftime on a goal by senior Danielle Groneman (East Islip), assisted by sophomore Abbey Wentlent (Greene). Cortland earned a penalty corner as the first half was ending. Although the clock expired, the Red Dragons were allowed, by rule, to continue the play and Groneman scored into the left side of the cage after the ball was played around the top of the circle.

Cortland held advantages of 13-1 in shots and 7-1 in penalty corners in the first half, but the Hawks started controlling the game more in the second half with a 6-3 edge in shots and 5-0 margin in corners. New Paltz finally broke through with 19:39 remaining when Deirdre O'Neill scored on a penalty corner play to knot the game at 1-1.

Both goalies came up with big efforts to keep the game tied. Cortland sophomore Amanda Perricone (Bedminster, PA/Pennridge) made seven of her eight saves after halftime – four in the second half and three in the first 15-minute overtime period. New Paltz goalie Antonija Pjetri registered 13 saves, with seven combined in the two overtime sessions.

Senior goalie Emily von Schondorf (Webster/Webster Thomas) entered the game for Cortland in the five-round penalty shootout. Cortland failed to convert on any of its four shootout attempts. New Paltz scored on its first attempt on a shot by Lauren Link and, after failing on its next two, sealed the win with a successful attempt by Amy Lee. Cortland outshot New Paltz in the contest, 25-12, and earned 12 penalty corners to nine for the Hawks.

Three Cortland players – Wentlent, senior Liz DeWaters (Lockport/Royalton-Hartland) and senior Brianna Petronio (Holland Patent) – were named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.

New Paltz 2, Cortland 1 (2 OT, shootout)

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Danielle Groneman 1-0, Abbey Wentlent 0-1
New Paltz: Deirdre O'Neill 1-0; 1 "team goal" awarded for winning shootout

Halftime: Cortland 1, New Paltz 0
End of Regulation: Cortland 1, New Paltz 1
Shots: Cortland 25, New Paltz 12
Penalty Corners: Cortland 12, New Paltz 9
Saves: Amanda Perricone (Cortland) 8 (1 GA in 100:00); Antonija Pjetri (New Paltz) 13 (1 GA in 100:00)

Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 9-8; New Paltz (Hawks) 16-4