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NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team looks to defend its 2012 conference title on Friday, Nov. 8, at 1:30 p.m., as the No. 3 seeded Hawks face No. 2 seeded SUNY Geneseo in the semifinals of the 2013 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Field Hockey Tournament, which runs from Friday-Saturday, Nov. 8-9, at top-seeded SUNY Cortland.

Live Coverage: Host Cortland will provide live in-game statistics and live video at the links above.

Records: New Paltz enters Friday's contest with an 11-8 record and 4-2 mark in the SUNYAC. Geneseo sports a 13-6 record, 5-1 SUNYAC.

Scouting the Hawks: New Paltz is coming off a tough 2-1 loss against Kean University last Saturday, falling with 40 seconds remaining in regulation… The Cougars, who came into the contest ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division III in goals-against-average (0.81), relied on the goaltending of sophomore Katie DiCarlo to hold the Hawks in check… DiCarlo, who came into the contest ranked seventh in the nation in save percentage (.847), made 11 saves against a Hawk team that had scored five goals against Vassar College two days earlier and came into the game averaging nearly four goals a contest… Senior forward Danielle Conklin, who ranks second in the SUNYAC in goals, tallied her team-leading 22nd goal against Kean… Conklin leads the team in assists with nine…Sophomore forward Dani Ackerman ranks second in scoring with 16 goals and has taken a team-best 81 shots… New Paltz has gotten scoring from 11 other players, a key reason why the Hawks rank third in the SUNYAC in scoring with 75 goals… Senior goalie Antonija Pjetri has a 2.44 goals-against average with 92 saves and a .724 save percentage.

Scouting the Knights: Geneseo, which suffered only one SUNYAC loss this season – 3-2 against Cortland on Oct. 19 – is coming off a 5-1 victory over Ithaca College last Saturday… Against Ithaca, senior forward Kayla DeAngelis and sophomore forward Sarah Malinak each scored two goals…The Knights are riding a five-game winning streak and have not lost since the setback against Cortland… In the winning streak, Geneseo has outscored its opponents 26-6 and tallied six goals on two occasions, 6-0 against Oswego on Oct. 12 and 6-0 versus Nazareth on Oct. 26 …. DeAngelis, who leads the SUNYAC in scoring, has had a stellar senior season, leading the Knights in goals (24), assists (11), shots (86) and game winning goals (4)… Malinak, who is tied for third in the SUNYAC in goals, has tallied 20 on just 48 shots and added six assists… Senior defender Bridget McGovern leads the team in assists with nine… Geneseo ranks second in the SUNYAC in scoring with 76 goals… Sophomore goalie Dayna Mercer (13-6, 5-1) has all decisions this season, sporting 2.49 goals-against average with 114 saves (.726 save percentage)… Nine Geneseo players have played in every game this season.

Last Meeting: (Box Score): On Sept. 27, 2013, the Hawks were unable to overcome a one-goal deficit that came early in the second half against the Knights, falling 2-1 in a contest played at the Turf Field… New Paltz sophomore forward Dani Ackerman opened scoring at 24:30, netting an unassisted goal off a scramble that resulted from a blocked shot... Just 2:31 before halftime, Geneseo's DeAngelis fed Malinak with a pass from the right wing, and Malinak's goal tied the game 1-1… DeAngelis, whose seven shots were all on goal, cashed in at short range in the 41st minute, providing all the offense Geneseo needed in the victory... The Knights held a 19-14 edge in shots and won the penalty corner battle, 10-9... Pjetri had 11 saves for New Paltz… Geneseo's Mercer had six saves in the win.

Head Coaches: New Paltz is directed by fifth-year head coach Shanna Vitale, who has won back-to-back SUNYAC Coach of the Year honors. Geneseo is led by Jess Seren, who is in her sixth season.

What's Next: With a victory, the Hawks would advance to the SUNYAC finals on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against either No. 1 seed Cortland or No. 4 seed Oneonta. On Oct. 2, the Hawks defeated Oneonta 1-0. On Oct. 25, New Paltz fell to then No. 16 nationally ranked Cortland 3-2.

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