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NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – So far this season, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team (15-4, 5-1 SUNYAC) has asserted itself as a potential challenger for the conference title. The top-seeded and host Hawks will have their chance to prove it on Saturday, Nov. 3, as they face third-seeded SUNY Cortland (9-7, 4-2 SUNYAC) in the final round of the 2012 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Field Hockey Tournament.

TICKET PRICING: Tickets are $6 for adults. SUNY students with valid identification and children ages 12 and under are free of charge.

STATISTICAL LEADERS: Senior forward Morgan Lizotte (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) has been the offense's sparkplug all season, bringing a team-high 12 goals into the SUNYAC Tournament. Lizotte's goal total is the fourth-best in the conference, while junior midfielderLauren Link (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West) is tied for the eighth-highest goal total with eight. Junior midfielder/forward Danielle Conklin (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) has contributed 10 assists so far this season, which ranks No. 1 on the team and No. 2 in the league. Junior forward Alicia Aragosa (Schenectady, N.Y./Niskayuna) has found the back of the cage when it matters most, as she boasts four game-winning scores. Junior goalkeeper Antonija Pjetri (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) has proven herself as one of the top netminders in the country in 2012, as she leads the nation in save percentage (.883) and ranks eighth nationally in goals-against average (0.85).

NCAA AUTOMATIC BID: 2012 marks the second year that the SUNYAC has an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament. The SUNYAC Tournament champion will earn the league's automatic-qualifying bid into the national tournament.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Cortland has asserted itself as the most storied program in the SUNYAC, and it has held the upper hand significantly in its all-time series record against New Paltz. The Red Dragons are 14-0 all-time against the Hawks and hold a 1-0 record against New Paltz in SUNYAC Tournament play.

MAKE IT THREE: New Paltz has qualified for the SUNYAC Field Hockey Tournament for each of the three years of its existence. The Hawks earned the tournament's No. 3 seed in 2010 and 2011, and 2012 saw the Hawks earn their first-ever No. 1 seed and regular-season title.

WINS MILESTONE: With the program's winningest all-time coach at the helm—fourth-year head coach Shanna Vitale—New Paltz has enjoyed its best season yet in the program's history in 2012. Not only have the Hawks achieved more wins (15) than any other New Paltz field hockey team, but it is also the first Hawk field hockey squad to have a winning season.

ABOUT HEAD COACH SHANNA VITALE: Shanna Vitale is in her fourth season as head coach of New Paltz's field hockey team, and she is already the most successful coach in the program's history. In her first season, Vitale led the Hawks to an 8-11 overall record after inheriting a program that went just 3-13 the previous season. She followed that up by making the SUNYAC Tournament each of the next two seasons, and she now owns a lifetime record of 40-35.

SCOUTING THE RED DRAGONS: Cortland lost to SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Geneseo during the regular season to earn the SUNYAC's No. 3 seed. Yesterday, they exacted revenge on the Blue Knights, as a converted penalty stroke in the first half by Erin Smith lifted the Red Dragons to a 1-0 victory. Cortland has won 14 of the league's 15 titles issued in the sport of field hockey. Smith leads the team with 13 goals, five assists and 31 points. Amanda Perricone has been Cortland's primary goalkeeper, as she boasts a 1.42 goals-against average and a .740 save percentage. Cynthia Wetmore enters her 15th season as head coach of the Red Dragon field hockey team, and she boasts a career overall record of 229-62.