The State University of New York at New Paltz is back in conference play on its home turf Wednesday taking on Catskill Cup rival SUNY Oneonta (8-8 overall, 3-2 SUNYAC).
 
The Hawks (9-6, 3-2) are coming off a disappointing loss at home against SUNY Cortland, falling in double overtime, 3-2. Both SUNY New Paltz and Oneonta has guaranteed a spot in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) playoffs, but the winner will clinch the No. 3 seed with the other falling to No. 4 and facing top-seeded and SUNYAC undefeated SUNY Geneseo in the semifinal round. 
The Hawks have won the last two matchups against the Red Dragons, including in the postseason in 2017. However, the last time Oneonta played on the North Turf Field, the visitors came away with a 4-1 victory back in the 2017 regular season.
 
In 2019, the Red Dragons are toward the bottom of the conference in terms of goals per game (2.3) and goals allowed (41). Senior forward Alise Anson leads the team in goals (seven) and points (15), while freshman midfielder Sophia Little paces Oneonta in assists with five. Sophomore goalkeeper Kristy Campana, who was recently named as the SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Week, has totaled 103 saves on the season on 197 shots faced with a record of 8-8.
 
For SUNY New Paltz, its freshman class has stepped up to combine for 39 points on the season with forwards Jamie Wagner and Natasia Plunkett having an immediate impact on the offense, combing for 17 goals. Plunkett scored both the Hawks' goals against Cortland Saturday, while Wagner leads the team in goals with 10, while sitting first on the team in points with 23. Sophomore midfielder Jessica Ascencao is second on the team with 21 points (eight goals, five assists), while junior forward Carly Croteau and sophomore midfielder Shannon Bernhardt follows with 19 and 18 points, respectively.
 
Defensively, SUNY New Paltz allows just less than two goals per game with Mackenzie Mortimer coming up with 62 saves on 83 shots faced in her last nine starts.
 
The Hawks are set to take on Oneonta on the North Turf Field Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

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