Pellegrino records career high, Mustangs shock SUNY New Paltz with 2-1 double overtime victory

By Brandy W. Thurston

MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – Morrisville State College freshman goalkeeper, Kelsey Pellegrino (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) withstood a fierce SUNY New Paltz attack on goal, recording a career high 26 saves, as the Mustangs shocked the visiting Hawks with a 2-1 double overtime victory Friday afternoon, Oct. 2 in Morrisville.

In the steady rain and numbing weather, New Paltz dominated the Mustangs in the first half, placing 21 shots in the direction of Pellegrino who turned away 10.

Morrisville State’s Lauren Bordonaro (North Tonowanda, NY/Starpoint) gave the Mustangs the one goal advantage 27 minutes into the first half, beating New Paltz goalie Elizabeth Dini (Sayville, NY/Sayville) on the right side of cage for the unassisted score.

In the second, New Paltz again dominated the Mustangs offensively, but weren’t able to sneak anything past Pellegrino until the 65th minute, when Sarah Schloss (Brant Lake, NY/North Warren) evened the contest at one off a scramble in front of the cage from a Kristen Bergmann (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) pass. Pellegrino matched her first half tally, recording two saves in the final minutes to force the game into the overtime period.

New Paltz had eight shots at cage in the first overtime period, but Pellegrino withstood the offensive efforts, turning away six, forcing a second overtime.

Minutes into the second overtime period, Bordonaro broke down the right side of the field into the circle and fired a shot at Dini who attempted to clear the ball, but Bordonaro collected the rebound and fired again into the left side of the net for the game winning score at 88:41.

Dini recorded five saves in the loss for New Paltz, who fall to 4-5 overall, 1-2 in SUNYAC action.

New Paltz held the 33-1 advantage in penalty corners, and the 49-11 advantage in shots over the Mustangs, but great defensive play by Morrisville State kept the Hawks from collecting the victory.

Morrisville State improves to 4-7 overall, picking up their first SUNYAC win of the season. The Mustangs return to the field Sunday, hosting St. Vincent College at 1 p.m. on the Morrisville State campus.

New Paltz faces conference foe Oneonta Saturday afternoon, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in New Paltz.

Pellegrino records career high, Mustangs shock SUNY New Paltz with 2-1 double overtime victory

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