For the third-straight season the State University of New York at New Paltz will face rival SUNY Cortland in the postseason. The last time the Hawks made the trip to Cortland was in 2017 when they lost a heart-breaking conference championship game to the hosting Red Dragons, 5-0. They hope to turn the tables and collect their first win in Cortland since 2015 — when they hoisted the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) trophy.
 
SUNY New Paltz (10-7 overall, 4-2 SUNYAC) defeated Cortland twice last season with the second time coming in the SUNYAC Championship game on the North Turf Field. The reigning conference champions will need to defeat the Red Dragons once more to earn a spot in the SUNYAC title game for the fourth-straight year. 
The Hawks didn't have their best game when they faced Cortland the first time around in 2019, falling in overtime, 3-2, on Oct. 26. In a fairly equally played four quarters, the Red Dragons dominated overtime. SUNY New Paltz barley held possession and totaled just one shot in 16 extra minutes, while Cortland put 12 shots on goal with three corners. The Hawks defense held firm, even playing down two players at one point, but eventually the Red Dragons broke through for the game-winning goal.
 
For SUNY New Paltz, its coming off a tough 3-0 loss at home against Ithaca College after a convincing 4-2 victory over SUNY Oneonta Oct. 30 to secure the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC playoffs. The Hawks were shutout for just the second time offensively against the Bombers. On the season, they have averaged 3.12 goals per game and leading the way is freshman Jamie Wagner (11 goals, five assists) and sophomore Jessica Ascencao (10 goals, five assists). Defensively, SUNY New Paltz allow about two goals per game, but have given up three or more in four of its last six games. Mackenzie Mortimer through 13 contests has totaled 74 saves on 101 shots faced for a .796 save percentage.
 
Cortland, meanwhile, has won its last seven games to a combined score of 25-7. Of the team's 15 wins on the year eight has come in overtime, going 8-0 in extra time contests this season.
 
Molly Quinlan (12 goals, five assists) paces the Red Dragons offensively, followed by senior Hannah Burchell (nine goals, eight assists) and freshman Lily Fox (six goals, one assist). All three players had a goal in the first matchup with the Hawks, with Fox scoring the game-winner in overtime. Marisa D'Amico leads the team in the net, compiling 145 saves on 254 shots faced with two shut outs and a 1.15 goals against average.
 
SUNY New Paltz is set to face Cortland Wednesday at 2 p.m. The winner will play for a conference championship against either No. 4 SUNY Oneonta or top seed SUNY Geneseo Saturday.

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