NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team will look to continue its undefeated start to the 2014 season by hosting Utica College on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS (2-0): Junior forward/midfielder
Dani Ackerman leads the team in goals (3), points (6) and shots (15)... Sophomore forward
Kayla McKeveny has scored two goals on six shots... Junior back
Jessica Caruana and senior forward
Alex Gallo have accounted for the team's other scores... Senior midfielder
Deirdre O'Neill has tallied three assists... Junior goalkeeper
Alayna Wageman is 2-0 with seven saves and two shutouts... New Paltz is led by sixth-year head coach
Shanna Vitale.
TEAM STATISTICS: New Paltz has outshot opponents 39-12 and hold a 27-9 shots-on-goal advantage... The Hawks have attempted 34 penalty corners and have allowed only seven... This is the second time since 2000 that the Hawks have started a season with back-to-back shutouts, the last of which came in 2012.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS (2-0): Senior forward Hannah Mackey has tallied a team-high seven goals for 14 points... Mackey leads the team in shots (14) and shots on goal (11)... Senior forward Chastity Eckert and senior forward Louise Steele-Norton have scored two goals apiece, with senior defender Becki Vivacqua accounting for the other marker... Junior goalkeeper Kells Casey started both games between the pipes and earned both wins... Casey has six saves, a 1.70 goals-against average and .667 save percentage... Utica is mentored by sixth-year head coach Sarah Elleman.
TEAM STATISTICS: Utica has outscored opponents, 12-4, and outshot foes, 38-14... Twenty-eight shots have been on target (.737 percent)... Utica has a 21-4 edge in shots during the second half... The Pioneers have taken 11 penalty corners.
LAST MEETING: November 1, 2005 (New Paltz lost, 6-2).
WHAT'S NEXT: New Paltz embarks on a three-game road trip, starting at Montclair State University on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m... Utica hosts Hartwick College on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. in its Empire 8 opener.
