Box Score

ONEONTA, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team has now reached the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament final for the third year in a row, as the Hawks topped SUNY Oneonta, 3-2, in the semifinal round at All College Field on Wednesday afternoon.

New Paltz, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, will host fourth-seeded SUNY Geneseo in the SUNYAC Tournament final on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Old Turf Field. The Hawks, who will be looking for their third straight conference title on Saturday, rise to 13-6, while second-seeded Oneonta ends its season at 11-8 overall.

New Paltz avenged a 2-0 loss against the Red Dragons from earlier this year, holding a dominant 17-5 margin in shots and an 8-1 cushion in penalty corners.

Just 4:20 into the game, junior back Jessica Caruana (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) scored from the top of the circle off a penalty-corner insertion from senior midfielder Deirdre O'Neill (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South). Not more than five minutes later, freshman forward Justine O'Reilly (West Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) made it a 2-0 game, one-timing a pass from sophomore forward Erin Landy (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) into the goal.

Oneonta did cut the deficit to one in the 24th minute, as senior forward Kelcy Forbragd posted a one-time goal of her own, burying a feed from senior forward Andrea Day. While New Paltz had three penalty-corner opportunities in the final six minutes of the first half, the Hawks were unable to gain separation before halftime, as the score remained at 2-1 heading into the intermission.

It took all of 6:07 into the second half for New Paltz to get that all-important insurance goal, as sophomore forward Kayla McKeveny (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) scored unassisted. That marker would prove vital, as the Red Dragons pulled within one once again in the 55th minute, as Day knocked a crossing pass from sophomore forward Bailee Barrett into the back of the cage.

Neither team was able to score the rest of the contest, and the Hawks pulled out the victory. About an hour later, New Paltz learned of the result from the Geneseo-Cortland game, which ensured that one more contest will take place at the Old Turf Field this season.

Junior goalkeeper Alayna Wageman (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) made one stop in the win for the Hawks, while her counterpart, senior goalkeeper Tess Tracy, turned aside seven shots. Junior midfielder/forward Holly VanDresar made a defensive save for the Red Dragons.