PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's lacrosse team scored the first goal of the game and pulled within 4-3 9:38 into the contest, but the Cardinals were unable to hang on in a 22-6 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) loss to SUNY New Paltz at the Field House Complex on Senior Day Monday. The contest marked Plattsburgh State's 2021 home opener as well.
 
Prior to the start of the game, the Cardinals recognized senior midfielder Frankie Porcaro (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) for her contributions to the program as a part of the Senior Day festivities.
 
New Paltz finished with a 37-20 edge in shots, a 24-19 cushion in ground balls and a 17-12 differential in draw controls while going 4-for-7 on free-position shots and 17-for-23 on clears. The Cardinals were 1-for-9 on free-position shots and 11-for-15 on clear attempts.
 
Plattsburgh State falls to 0-2 overall (0-2 SUNYAC) with the loss and next visits SUNY Oneonta on Wednesday, April 14, at 4 p.m. New Paltz rises to 3-2 overall (3-2 SUNYAC) with the win and next hosts Oneonta on Thursday, April 15, at 4 p.m.
 
Sophomore midfielder Lindsay Guzzetta (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) fired the opening salvo for the Cardinals 1:23 into the contest, finding the back of the cage on a pass from sophomore attacker Deja Richardson (Rochester, N.Y./Sperry). New Paltz's freshman defender Kate St. Lucia scored woman-up 1:12 later, and the Hawks took the lead on a goal from sophomore midfielder Camryn Rider (junior attacker Maddy Carullo assist) and added to the advantage on a score from senior attacker Amy Hofer. Sophomore midfielder/defender Caroline Noia (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South) netted a goal to trim the gap to one, while New Paltz countered with a marker from junior attacker Katie Zito (sophomore midfielder Ella Malanga assist).
 
Noia brought the Cardinals within one once again with 20:22 left in the first half before New Paltz pulled away with four consecutive goals. Junior attacker Emily Caoili (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Arlington) broke up the run with a tally midway through the period, but the Hawks relied on 13 unanswered goals spanning the remainder of the first half into the first 22:37 of the second to seize a 21-4 edge. The score was 13-4 at the half.
 
Porcaro scored on a free-position shot with 5:56 left in regulation, and while the Hawks scored their 22nd goal of the game 1:35 later, Noia completed the hat trick with a score 53 seconds before the final horn.
 
Noia led the Cardinal attack with a career-high three goals, while Porcaro, Caoili and Guzzetta also scored. Sophomore defender/midfielder Emma McLaughlin (Northport, N.Y./Northport) controlled a team-high five draws, while Guzzetta scooped up a game-high five ground balls. Guzzetta, first-year defender/midfielder Janey Adams (Wynantskill, N.Y./Averill Park) and first-year attacker Fiona Fitzgerald (Long Beach, N.Y./Holy Trinity) each caused two turnovers to key Plattsburgh State defensively.
 
For New Paltz, Zito and Hofer each buried five goals, while Malanga tallied five points on four goals and an assist. Hofer and senior midfielder Keydy Espinoza each controlled six draws, while St. Lucia caused four turnovers.
 
Junior goalie Alexa Cassidy (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) and first-year goalie Johanna Malone (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) each played 30 minutes in net and made six and three saves, respectively, while freshman goalie Hailey Aber made nine stops in 48:35 of action for New Paltz.