NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Mattie Betts scored the game-winning goal with 2:26 left in the third quarter as host New Paltz defeated Cortland, 2-1, in SUNYAC field hockey action.
 
New Paltz improved to 3-0 in league play and 8-4 overall. Cortland dropped to 1-2 in the conference and 4-8 overall.
 
In a basically even game statistically, New Paltz held a 9-8 edge in shots and Cortland earned six penalty corners to five for the Hawks. Cortland goalie Emma Morgan (Whitney Point) made six saves and New Paltz goalie Gail Comiskey turned aside seven shots.
 
New Paltz struck first just 6:26 into the contest. The Hawks capitalized on a Cortland turnover in its third of the field. Ashley McGough sent a lead pass up the middle to Rachel Tama, who dribbled in, created space to avoid Morgan and hit a reverse-stick shot into the cage.
 
Cortland knotted the game with 1:18 left in the first half. Lillian Morse (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) received a penalty corner feed at the top of the circle. She fed a pass left to Adrienne Mayes (Vestal), who blasted in a shot through traffic for her fourth goal of the season.
 
The game-winning goal was set up by McGough, who dribbled toward the right end line before sending a crossing pass to a wide open Betts near the left post. Cortland managed two shots over the final 17 minutes - one in the final minute of the third and another less than a minute into the fourth, both saved by Comiskey.
 
Cortland will host Hartwick in non-league action Wednesday at 4 p.m.