NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – After dropping consecutive games against two nationally-ranked opponents, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team looks to bounce back at Union (N.Y.) College on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. at Frank Bailey Field.
RECORDS: New Paltz is 3-2, while the Dutchwomen are 1-3, with Tuesday night being the home opener for Union.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS (3-2):
After falling at No. 4 Skidmore College and No. 8 Montclair State University last week, New Paltz looks to respond versus the Dutchwomen... New Paltz has gone 3-1 against Union in their last four meetings... Junior goalkeeper Alayna Wageman has recorded 26 saves in the last two contests, including a season-high and career-best 14 saves at Skidmore on Saturday.STATISTICAL LEADERS: Junior forward/midfielder
Dani Ackerman leads the team in goals (4), points (8) and shots (25)... Sophomore forward
Kayla McKeveny is second on the team with three goals... Senior forward
Alex Gallo and junior back
Jessica Caruana both have two goals apiece... Senior midfielder
Deirdre O'Neill has a team-high four assists... Caruana is second on the squad with three helpers and 17 shots... Wageman is 3-2 with a 2.20 goals-against average (GAA), a .780 save percentage and 39 saves.
TEAM STATISTICS: The Hawks have outscored opponents, 13-11... New Paltz has attempted 57 penalty corners, compared to 30 for foes... The Hawks have outscored opponents, 10-6, in the second half, holding a 43-34 edge during the last period... The Hawks hold a 34-14 margin in second-half penalty corners.
SCOUTING THE DUTCHWOMEN (1-3): Union plays its first game at home after beginning the year on a four-game road swing... Last year, Union went 3-6 at home... Union fell to Wilkes University and SUNY Geneseo before defeating Ramapo College, 6-0... In their Liberty League opener, the Dutchwomen fell to the University of Rochester, 2-0... Union was picked to finish seventh in the 2014 Liberty League Preseason Poll.
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Sophomore forward Sarah Medd leads the team in goals (3) and points (6)... Sophomore forward Jessie Mulvey is second on the squad in goals (2) and points (5) and leads the team in shots (12)... Sophomore midfielder Alexa Steriti also has five points... Seven players have at least one point... Sophomore goalkeeper Laura Aptowitz is 1-3 with 27 saves while allowing eight goals... Aptowitz has a GAA of 2.01 and a .771 save percentage.
TEAM STATISTICS: Union has scored eight goals while also allowing eight... The Dutchwomen hold a 38-31 penalty-corner edge... Union has outscored opponents, 4-0, in the first half... The team has attempted three penalty strokes this year, connecting on two.
LAST MEETING: New Paltz edged Union, 3-2, when the two teams last met on Oct. 16, 2013.WHAT'S NEXT: New Paltz returns home to play the University of Rochester on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 12 p.m... Union travels to Castleton State College on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.
