NEW PALTZ, N.Y.  - Cortland scored two second-half goals, including the game winner by Anna Branch (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) with less than 12 minutes remaining, as the Red Dragon field hockey team defeated New Paltz, 2-1, to claim the SUNYAC regular-season title.

Cortland (12-3, 6-0 SUNYAC) won its fourth straight league regular-season crown and will host fourth-seeded Oneonta in the SUNYAC tournament semifinals on Wednesday, November 2. New Paltz (9-6, 5-1) will host Geneseo in the semifinals, also on November 2, and the two winners will meet in the finals on Saturday, November 5, at the highest remaining seed.

New Paltz took a 1-0 lead just 3:21 into the contest on a goal by Kayla McKeveny. Cortland eventually tied the game 12:13 into the second half when Jessica Welsh (Hamilton) scored her team-high 14th goal of the season, assisted by Gabby Stein (Endwell/Maine-Endwell).

The Red Dragons took a 2-1 lead with 11:46 remaining on Branch's seventh goal of the season, set up by Jess Gibaldi (Westbury/W.T. Clarke). New Paltz got two shots off in the next two minutes, but Cortland's defense held the Hawks without another shot the rest of the way.

Cortland goalie Kailynne Reinoehl (Lititz, PA/Warwick) and New Paltz goalie Megan Gangewere each finished with three saves.

Cortland will host St. Lawrence on Wednesday, October 26, at 4 p.m. in a non-league game.

Cortland 2, New Paltz 1

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):

Cortland: Jessica Welsh 1-0, Anna Branch 1-0, Gabby Stein 0-1, Jess Gibaldi 0-1
New Paltz: Kayla McKeveny 1-0

Halftime: New Paltz 1, Cortland 0
Shots: New Paltz 10, Cortland 8
Penalty Corners: Cortland 10, New Paltz 6
Saves: Kailynne Reinoehl (Cortland) 3 (1 GA in 70:00), Megan Gangewere (New Paltz) 3 (2 GA in 70:00)

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 12-3, 6-0 SUNYAC; New Paltz (Hawks) 9-6, 5-1 SUNYAC