The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team earned the No. 1 seed in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tournament, getting the chance to win a conference championship on its home turf for the first time since 2014. 
 
The Hawks are three years removed from their last SUNYAC title with their four-straight conference championship streak ending two years ago on their home turf against SUNY Geneseo. SUNY New Paltz has the chance to avenge that loss from two years ago, with the No. 4 seeded Knights again visiting the top seeded Hawks for a semifinal match up. 
 
"What better way to start playoffs on our home turf?" said SUNY New Paltz senior back Samantha Ackerman. "That is something that I will never forget losing here my sophomore year. It's our turn and we are coming in at number one in playoffs and we're looking to end playoffs as number one, and win another SUNYAC Championship on our turf this year."
 
The Hawks lost to SUNY Geneseo in their regular season matchup on the road Oct. 13. It was one of SUNY New Paltz's worst offensive outings of the season, recording just two shots on goal in the game — tying its lowest total of the season.
 
Since then, the Hawks have regrouped to defeat SUNY Oneonta to capture the top seed in the tournament, but as of late are coming off two-straight losses against non-conference opponents, Kean University and Vassar College to end the regular season. SUNY New Paltz has worked hard in the days leading up to Wednesday's game to improve from those outings.
 
"I know Sam says a lot, perfect teams respond perfectly to their mistakes and that is exactly what we need to do," said Hawks freshman forward Carly Croteau. "Moving into conference championships and playoff games, we need to play exactly how we need to play against those teams once we go to the tournament. So, it will be really important that we collect ourselves, apply all the fixes we're doing in practice and really implement them in the game, just move the ball, together as one unit."
 
The Hawks' defense have looked impressive in the last few outings, letting up less than two goals per game in their last five contests, while freshman goalie Ryan Dowling has averaged 12 saves per game in that span.
 
The Knights, meanwhile, have gone 2-3 in their last five games, losing to University of Rochester, SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oneonta. They ended the season with a hard fought 1-0 loss on the road to the Yellowjackets in their regular season finale. 
 
"I think we just need to have a positive mentality. Anything can happen, any team can show up on game day," Croteau said. "Playoff season is a completely different season than regular season and we just need to have our passes connecting, we have to have all-ball movement, making the movements, being big and defensive in the circle and then taking risks in our attacking end."
 
SUNY New Paltz is set to take on the Knights on the North Turf Field at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Gates open at 1 p.m. with a $5 admission fee for adults, $3 for children and free for SUNYAC students with I.D. Parking will be available on the West Student Parking Lot 40.  

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