NEW PALTZ, NY – Sage's Taylor Lynch (Woodstock, NY/Saugerties) was the hero for the second game in a row with a game-winning goal in the 77th minute to lift the Gators past SUNY-New Paltz 1-0 in nonconference action Friday night.
New Paltz went on the offensive early in the game, but Sage (2-0) goalie, Cassy Robataille (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam), and the Gator defense kept the Hawks off the board.
In the seventh minute, sophomore Samantha Trimblett (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) got off Sage's one shot of the half, but it was blocked by the Hawk defense.
New Paltz had an opportunity to go up 1-0 in the 33rd minute when Monica Rouse headed a Gabriella Cabello corner kick at the Sage net, but Robataille denied Rouse the goal.
At the beginning of the second half, Rouse got off another header on a Cabello corner, but Robataille saved the Hawk shot. Less than four minutes later, Trimblett put a shot on frame, but she was denied by New Paltz's Angela Ratka in goal.
Play continued to go back and forth for the next 27 minutes until Sage's Shelby Ruppenthal (Albany, NY/Guilderland) found Lynch's feet in the 77th minute. Lynch dribbled the ball through the box and found the back left corner of the net to put the Gators up 1-0.
Five minutes later in the 83rd minute, New Paltz had its best opportunity to tie the game on a Cabello corner. Cabello found Rouse's head for the third time of the game, but the defender hit the ball wide, and Sage held on for the win.
Robataille (2-0) recorded her first collegiate shutout on a four save effort. The freshman goalie was assisted by the backline of Ruppenthal, Madison Spohr (Ramstein, Germany/Ramstein), Keeley Paull (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh), Monica Koralus (Verbank, NY/Milbrook), Nicole Bauer (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury), Brittany Gage (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) and Shelby Sarraino (Watervliet, NY/Shaker).
Sage plays their third and final game of the week against Ithaca College at SUNY-New Paltz. Kickoff is set for noon.
