On a perfect Saturday afternoon on the campus of New Paltz the New Paltz Men's Soccer team beat a talented Alumni team 3-2. Twenty-four alumni made the trip to campus to compete this year marking the largest alumni turnout in years.
The game got off to a very fast start as New Paltz created multiple scoring chances in the opening 15 minutes. Jimmy Altadonna '12 had the first chance but his shot hit the post. The post again denied an opening goal minutes later and Mike Judge '08 was up to the task of keeping the ball out of the net for the first 20 minutes. With just under 15 minutes to play in the half a perfect cross landed at the feet of team captain Tommy Garafola '12 but his shot sailed over the bar. Class of 2009 goalkeeper Patrick Carlucci showed why he earned the starting spot his senior year with two spectacular saves late in the half to preserve the shutout over the first 45 minutes.
With solid goalkeeping and good spurts of possession against the run of play it was the Alumni who were able to light up the scoreboard first. A darting run through midfield by Justin Thomson '08 opened space at the back for Joe Fabian to find room between the two centerbacks and his brilliant finish, in the 35th minute, to the far post put the alumni up 1-0 at the break.
Right from the opening kickoff of the 2nd half New Paltz was eager to tie the match. In the 55th minute Harrision Lane '13 picked up a loose ball in midfield, dribbled into the left side of the penalty box before sending a low left footed strike across the face of goal that eventually hit the far post and bounced into the goal to even the game at 1-1. In the 65th minute a miscommunication at the back left Judge to challenge Lucas Natel '11 for the ball near the edge for the penalty area. The ball took a fortunate bounce to the feet of Michael Ackerman '11 who calmly placed the ball into an open net from 16 yards out. New Paltz got the eventual game winner from David Gardiner '11 when his low right footed shot snuck past Carlucci off of a back-heal assist from Chris Marks '13.
The final 15 minutes provided the fans with a great amount of excitement. In the 75th minute 2003 SUNYAC Player of the Year Mario Lavacca '04 found himself in the left corner with a defender on his back. Lavacca was able to find a sliver of space between the defender and the end line to maneuver his body through before delivering a perfectly bent ball with pace to an on rushing Chris Hotzak '09 who beat his defender to the ball and drilled his shot into the net to make the score 3-2. In the final 3 minutes the Alumni almost produced a tying goal but Caleb Johnson '13 game up with two huge 1v1 saves to preserve the win.
New Paltz will conclude their spring season on May 1st with games against Marist and Dominican at Marist. Kickoffs are scheduled for 9:30am and 11:15am.
Alumni in attendance.
Paola Capparelli, Partick Carlucci, Joe Fabian,
Greg Foss, Peter Harris, Chris Hotzak, Jason Irish, Harper Jaroff, Mike Judge, Thomas Libardi, Ryan Lundgren, Thomas McCauley, Robert Mendez, Robert Monohan, Buddy Pendergast, Olly Petrovic, Sean Reminick, Stuart Robinson, Ryan Shanks, Anton Shipman, Brian Siergiej, John Stegmayer, Nick Stockman, Justin Thomson and Mario Lavacca.
