After claiming the programs fifth State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team begins its road into the NCAA Tournament Wednesday against Keene State University.
 
It is the first time since 2015 the Hawks (12-7 overall) have earned a spot in the national tournament, but are still going about their preparation like any other game, focused on taking advantage of the opportunity at hand.
 
"Moving forward to playing in the NCAA's, we're looking at this as an opportunity to continue to grow and develop," said SUNY New Paltz coach Shanna Szablinski. "We talked about rising and thriving and not being complacent with just winning the SUNYAC's. I think with a young team that could be a challenge, but I feel extremely comfortable and confident with this group because a lot of them have played for championships and state titles throughout their careers as high school players. Yes it is different, but I feel like our vision has been very clear since day one." 
 
The Owls (17-6 overall) are coming off a conference championship of their own, defeating Castleton University in the Little East Conference, 2-1, Saturday.
 
Keene State this season has averaged nearly four goals per game, while allowing less than two a contest. Sharing no opponents in common with the Hawks this season, the Owls have played three top-25 nationally ranked teams in Trinity College, Amherst College and Williams College, but went winless in those games and got out-scored, 12-2.
 
Senior midfielder Erica Stauffer (6 goals, 7 assists) and junior defender Ally McCall (3 goals, 13 assists) lead Keene State with 19 points each, while sophomore Rachel Loseby has started all 23 games in the cage, totaling 105 saves for a .734 save percentage.
 
SUNY New Paltz (12-7), meanwhile, is coming off one of its most impressive performances against SUNY Cortland, especially on the defensive side where it held a Red Dragons offense which averaged nearly four goals per game to just one goal on 13 shots.
 
"It is really important that we continue that momentum," Szablinski said. "I think we did an excellent job of really denying opportunities on a very powerful attacking line and I think Keene has an excellent attacking line. It is going to be the same thing where we have to make sure that we're aware of the space around us and putting on immediate pressure on the ball, just be organized defensively.
 
"To add to that, our transition, we have to continue to attack in numbers and be extremely physical and aggressive inside our attacking circle. Their goalie comes out, she's aggressive, she is dynamic, so it is going to be important that we are taking advantage of rebounds and changing the point of attack inside our attacking end and just capitalizing on our opportunities."
 
The Hawks have also played three top-25 teams in Montclair State University, University of Rochester and Vassar College, falling in each of those matches by a margin of three goals or less. They've also competed against regionally ranked opponents in SUNY Cortland — which they beat twice — and St. John Fisher College, which went into overtime in a tight 5-4 loss.
 
Heading into the game Wednesday, SUNY New Paltz has averaged nearly three goals per game, while allowing less than two a contest. Freshman Jessica Ascencao leads the team with 12 goals and three assists. Her 27 points ranks seventh most in a single season in Hawks history.  Sophomore Carly Croteau (nine goals, five assists) follows offensively with 23 points, while junior Kaitlyn Gunter (seven goals, six assists) trails slightly behind with 20 points.
 
Freshman Ryan Dowling has been stout in goal for SUNY New Paltz, totaling 151 saves — which ranks fourth most in a single season in program history — to go along with a .834 save percentage on the year, which sits at third best in Hawks single-season history.
 
"We talk about it all the time — we focus on the process versus the outcome, so that really helps to keep them up to par of what we need to do, and not overlook what we're trying to do, and not take for granted what we have," Szablinski added. "I think because we're working on the process and our vision is crystal clear about being top contenders within our conference, region and the country that is something they continue to do every single day as they are preparing and training."
 
SUNY New Paltz will travel to Keene, NH to take on the Owls Wednesday at 3 p.m. The winner will then face No. 2 nationally ranked Middlebury College, which earned a first round bye.

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