NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – In 2010, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team went 9-10 overall (3-3 SUNYAC) and earned the No. 3 seed into the inaugural State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Field Hockey Tournament. Third-year head coach

Vitale scheduled a rough non-conference slate, which begins with the Drew Tournament from Sept. 3-4 in Madison, N.J. The Hawks travel to Western Connecticut State University on Sept. 8 before contesting nationally-ranked Skidmore College on Sept. 10 at the Turf Field in New Paltz's home opener. The Hawks host SUNY Oneonta on Sept. 16 and visits Morrisville State College on Sept. 17, which serves as the first pair of league contests.

A home bout against Montclair State on Sept. 21 ushers in a three-game road swing, which includes conference tilts against SUNY Oswego and SUNY Cortland. New Paltz then hosts four straight, starting with William Paterson University on Oct. 6. Down the stretch, the Hawks battle Rhodes College at a neutral site and Ramapo College and the Stevens Institute of Technology on the road before closing their season with an Oct. 29 matchup with Kean University. Should New Paltz finish among the top four in the final SUNYAC standings, it will compete in the 2011 SUNYAC Field Hockey Tournament, which runs from Nov. 4-5 at the site of the highest seed. This is the first season that the SUNYAC holds an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament.

"We have to keep our schedule competitive because we want to grow and become better as the season progresses," Vitale said. "Our main focus is that we have to take every day one at a time. We have to expect to have a challenge, and a difficult game each time we step foot on the field and rise to the occasion."

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