NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team starts State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play this weekend, hosting SUNY Oswego on Friday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. before entertaining SUNY Cortland on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m.
RECORDS: The Hawks are 4-3 overall (0-0 SUNYAC) with a 2-1 mark at home…The Lakers are 2-4 with an 0-1 SUNYAC record… The Red Dragons are 4-2 overall (0-0 SUNYAC) and are recieving votes in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Top-20 Poll.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS (4-3): New Paltz fell, 3-2, to the University of Rochester last Saturday despite trailing, 2-0, at halftime… After this three-game homestand, the Hawks are on the road for five straight… Junior forward/midfielder
Dani Ackerman leads the SUNYAC in shots (32) and shots per game (4.57), while junior back
Jessica Caruana is tops in the conference in assists (5) and assists per game (.833)… Junior goalkeeper
Alayna Wageman leads the league in shutouts (2).
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Senior midfielder
Deirdre O'Neill leads the team with 10 points and is tied for fourth in the SUNYAC in that statistical category… Sophomore forward
Kayla McKeveny and junior forward/midfielder
Dani Ackerman both have a team-high four goals… Seven players have at least one goal… Caruana leads the squad with five assists… Wageman is 4-3 with a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.14, a save percentage of .769, 50 saves and two shutouts.
TEAM STATISTICS: New Paltz has outscored opponents, 19-15, despite being outshot, 106-100…The Hawks hold a 79-40 penalty corner advantage… New Paltz has outscored teams, 15-7, in the second half.
SCOUTING THE LAKERS (2-4): Oswego defeated Nazareth College, 4-3, in overtime on Sept. 6 and Houghton College, 2-1, on Sept. 9 for its two victories of the year… The Lakers fell to The College at Brockport, 2-1, in double overtime on Friday in their SUNYAC opener… Oswego fell to then-No. 9 William Smith in its season opener on Aug. 29… Freshman goalkeeper Sarita Charap was named the SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2 for the first selection of the season.
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Freshman forward Danielle Cronk leads the team in points (5) and shots (15)… Junior forward Lisa O'Callaghan has fired off 12 shots, second most on the squad…Sophomore forward Grace Rinaldi has tallied two goals… Sophomore forward Jenna Jevons, O'Callaghan and sophomore midfielder/forward Sam Perez have scored the other Laker goals… Charap is 2-2 with a GAA of 2.21, a .815 save percentage and 44 saves… Junior goalkeepers Priscilla Poulouse and Grace Lombardi are both 0-1 with a combined 14 saves.
TEAM STATISTICS: The Lakers have been outscored this season 22-7 as opponents hold a 143-52 shots margin…Teams hold a 72-32 edge in penalty corners against Oswego.
LAST MEETING:
New Paltz secured the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament with a 2-1 win over Oswego when the two teams last met on Oct. 26, 2013.
SCOUTING THE RED DRAGONS (4-2): Cortland's two losses have come at the hands of top-10 opponents, falling to then-No. 6 Skidmore College and then-No. 8 Montclair State… The Red Dragons have defeated Elmira College, St. John Fisher College, Ithaca College and Houghton College… Sophomore forwards Shelby Underwood and Gabby Stein have earned SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Week honors this year.
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Stein leads the team in goals (7), assists (3) and points (17) and leads both the team and the SUNYAC in points (17), points per game (2.83), goals (7) and goals per game (1.17)… Underwood has tallied five goals on 21 shots… Junior midfielder Jillian Vogl has accumulated 10 points… Vogl is second in the conference in shots (21) and shots per game (3.50)… Six different players have scored at least two goals… Senior goalkeeper Amanda Perricone is 4-2 with a 2.06 GAA, a .643 save percentage, 18 saves and one shutout.
TEAM STATISTICS: The Red Dragons have outscored opponents, 25-13, outshooting teams, 128-62… Cortland holds a 74-32 penalty corner edge… The Red Dragons have outscored foes, 16-5, in the second half.
LAST MEETING:
New Paltz topped then-No. 14 Cortland, 5-4, following regulation, two overtimes and a shootout when the two teams met in the SUNYAC Tournament final last year at Cortland on Nov. 9, 2013.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Hawks continue with SUNYAC play on Friday, Oct. 3, traveling to The College at Brockport for a 4 p.m. contest... The Lakers travel to Keystone College Thursday, Oct. 2, for a 4 p.m. contest... Cortland plays at Nazareth College on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 4 p.m.
