Box Score Oneonta, NY – Junior Serena Capsello scored three goals less than 14 minutes into the game to lead the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team to a 4-2 win, its first of the season, over St. Lawrence University on Saturday afternoon. All three of her goals came within less than four and a half minutes of each other.

"We came out very strong scoring three goals in the first half," head coach Shanna Szablinski said. "Megan [Gangewere] came up huge in the second half and had an excellent game and she really held the defense down. We're pleased with the start to our season."

Capsello became the first Hawk to record a hat trick since Kayla McKeveny pulled off the feat on Oct. 17, 2015 against Morrisville State College.

The scoring began at the 9:16 mark when Capsello scored off a pass across the middle from senior Justine O'Reilly. O'Reilly also assisted Capsello's next goal, which came less than two minutes later. She recorded her third goal of the game off an assist from freshman Carly Croteau at the 13:27 mark.

St. Lawrence got on the board late in the second half, as senior Maggie Wraight scored an unassisted goal at the 63^rd minute.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Gunter quickly responded with a goal of her own at the 64:12 mark off a pass through the middle from senior Hayley Kim to make it a 4-1 game.

The Saints cut the deficit in half in the final minute of regulation when junior Lindsay Houseman scored off an assist from freshman Sonya Sandhu, but the Hawks held on for the 4-2 win.

Senior Megan Gangewere made 12 stops in the cage to preserve the victory.

Capsello led the team with six shots, five of which were on goal. O'Reilly was right behind her with four shots, while Kim and Gunter notched three shots apiece. Croteau contributed two shots and freshman Sawyer Kessler recorded four shots in their collegiate debuts.

As a team, SUNY New Paltz out-shot St. Lawrence 22-18, but the Saints held a 10-9 advantage in corners.

The Hawks are back in action Sunday when they take on Utica College in a neutral site contest at 2 p.m.