The Ramapo College field hockey team registered their fourth loss of the season, falling 3-0 against SUNY New Paltz last Wednesday in their first home game of the season. The loss marks the third time the Roadrunners were shutout this season. The loss put them at a 1-4 record, but have yet to play in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game so far.
Junior goalkeeper Michelle Kukan fought throughout all 60 minutes of action, saving 16 of 19 shots on goal she faced, good for a 0.842 save percentage.
It was a quiet game overall for the Roadrunners, tallying two shots total, one from junior defender Juliana Mikulski and one on goal from sophomore forward Ana Plaia.
The first goal of the game for New Paltz came unassisted from sophomore defender Meghan Gunning two minutes in. Kukan kept the Hawks out of the goal again until the 23rd minute when senior midfielder Hannah Ackerman scored on a penalty stroke. The third and final goal came during the fourth period from sophomore forward Ayden Fleming, assisted by sophomore midfielder Rachel Tama.
This loss is not the first for Ramapo that has come at the hands of the Hawks. Last year, the Roadrunners opened their season with a tight game against New Paltz that ultimately ended with a late game-winning goal for the Hawks.
With the cancellation of their home game against Misericordia University on Saturday, the Roadrunners next took on Western Connecticut State at home on Wednesday, where they registered their second win of the season, 4-0.
The Roadrunners scored early and often in this one, with three goals coming in the first quarter. The first goal came two minutes into action, when Plaia scored her first goal of the season, assisted by freshman forward Kayla Gray. Two minutes later, junior forward Julianna Gentilucci put one through the net, assisted by junior forward Morgan Trotter. In the following moments, sophomore midfielder Victoria Chavez scored unassisted, giving Ramapo a comfortable 3-0 lead.
The game would remain 3-0 in favor of the Roadrunners until midway through the fourth quarter, when sophomore forward Sarah Ippolito scored the fourth goal of the night for Ramapo, assisted by Gentilucci.
Kukan was on point for the Roadrunners, registering a complete game shutout while recording three saves. It was Kukan’s second shutout of the season.
The win moved the Roadrunners to 2-4 on the season, and their next scheduled game comes on the road against SUNY Oneonta on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.
rgatherc@ramapo.edu
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Featured photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
