Since the preseason began, the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team has been repeating one date over and over at practice – 11/24.
 
After a strong 2018, which culminated in another conference title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, the Hawks' national title hopes were cut short in the first round against Keene State University. Their expectations for 2019 is to not only repeat as State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champions, but make a run at a NCAA championship, which will be played this year on Nov. 24.
 
"We are definitely here to re-defend our title for SUNYACs, but we have been saying in our heads "11/24"... It's set in our minds," said SUNY New Paltz junior forward Carly Croteau. "We are 100 percent going further than we did last year. The loss against Keene was definitely a learning opportunity for us, especially since we do have a younger team." 
The Hawks return the bulk of their roster and the majority of their starting lineup in 2019, which includes nine players who started in the 4-3 loss against the Owls.
 
Along with Croteau, who was named as a Second-Team All-SUNYAC selection last season, SUNY New Paltz brings back last year's SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and All-Region recipient Jessica Ascencao, All-SUNYAC senior forward Kaitlyn Gunter and SUNYAC Tournament MVP in sophomore goalie Ryan Dowling.
 
"I think the experience helps with their confidence. It helps with execution. It helps with decision making and definitely things are picked up more quickly, and we are able to adapt," said Hawks coach Shanna Szablinski about returning a young but experienced roster. "We still have a ton to learn and build upon, but I think because there is that wiliness and eagerness to put that pride and ego aside with the understanding that what we did last year doesn't mean anything this year. We have to work just as hard and smart in order to achieve success."
 
SUNY New Paltz's defensive unit will have the biggest change from last season, as it graduated All-Region back Maggie Cottrell and All-SUNYAC back Samantha Ackerman. The Hawks will look to Ascencao, freshman Julia Cummings and senior Sarah Swift to help fill those gaps.
 
"I think losing two key players is always very difficult. The interesting part right now, because it is earlier on, it is a wide open position game to who can be filling those shoes," Szablinski said. "… We are looking to continue to utilize more players in the backfield and hopefully get them more fit and where they need to be in order to provide us depth on our bench, which is really important too."  Meanwhile on the offensive side of the ball, the Hawks look dominant. Croteau became one of the best forwards in the conference last season in just her second year, totaling 10 goals and five assists, while Gunter played her best hockey during the postseason, recording five of her career-high 22 points against SUNY Cortland and Keene State. Senior Sophia Urrutia also returned to the lineup after missing the previous season with a foot injury and recorded six goals and 13 points in 20 games played in 2019.
 
"So on the offensive side we probably have some of the fastest forwards in the SUNYAC I would say," Urrutia said. "It's just a matter of taking advantage of our opportunities and capitalizing when we get in front of the goal. Not creating as many turnovers and communicating a lot more, so we can get those shots off and be more successful in front of the goal."
 
Ascencao is the Hawks' biggest play-maker, as the Mohegan Lake, NY native led her team in goals (12) and points (28) in her first year. Fellow sophomores Shannon Bernhardt, Jackie Kanapes and Morgan Gunter will all see their roles increase, while SUNY New Paltz also brings in some promising newcomers on offense with the additions of freshmen Natasia Plunkett and Jamie Wagner.
 
With all the speed, talent and depth the Hawks boast along their lineup, they will look to take advantage in transition and run teams throughout each game.

"I think our transition from defense to attack is going to be one of our strengths once we continue to develop their decision making with the ball and their confidence to continue to take the ball and make quick decisions," Szablinski said. "I think we are going to see a lot of great things. Natasia Plunkett has really impressed the coaches and is just very good at eliminating, and being aggressive inside the circle, which is great to see. You have players like Carly who is a workhorse and has a tremendous amount of speed and is able to generate attack, which is something that also will propel the forward line. You have other players too like Jamie Wagner and Shannon who step in and are able to build upon that. With our forward line you will see a lot of depth with a great ability to attack at speed."

Defensively, the Hawks are backed by arguably one of the SUNYAC's best in Dowling. The East Northport, NY native took over the starting role early on during her freshman year and finished with an 11-7 record, while totaling 153 saves – fourth most in single season program history -- and an .818 save percentage. She played a huge role during SUNY New Paltz's conference title run, being named tournament MVP after posting 23 saves, while allowing just three goals in 26 shots against in the Hawks' two games.

SUNY New Paltz also has Kayla Ahern and Courtney Kruzikas returning for their sophomore seasons. They, along with Ascencao and Ackerman were the only players to start all 20 games for the Hawks in 2018.
 
With the plethora of talent returning and last season's bittersweet end, Szablinski and her team are looking forward for a chance at another conference title run, but are also eyeing to play some more hockey in late November as well.
 
"I think with our attitudes and our work ethic, we are really going to grow and develop fairly quickly," Szablinksi said. "I think we have the ability to have a really successful season, as long as we stay focused at what our goals are and what we are working towards and achieving them together. I think we have a really talented group who works hard and is eager to continue to learn and get better. You can see after just a short week they aren't complacent with just going through the motions. They want to be prepared and they want to get better. They are willing to make an impact by doing this through training and bringing it onto the field for competitions."
 
SUNY New Paltz is set to open up 2019 at the Utica College Invitational, taking on the hosting Pioneers in its season-opener Aug. 30 at 5 p.m.
 
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