Since the State University of New York at New Paltz announced the addition of men's lacrosse nearly two years ago, the anticipation has been mounting for the Hawks to come together and take the field for the first time. Coach Dwayne Stewart put together a group of 28 men who are ready to work hard, fight for every ball and play with maximum effort for a full four quarters, and he and his group are excited to finally get on the field and hit someone in a different colored jersey for the first time in their inaugural game Friday at home against Elmira College.

"We're very excited. Our guys believed in my vision… From where we started in the fall and where we are now I am extremely proud of them," Stewart said. "I am looking forward to seeing them where they are in a position competing against other opponents. More than anything, I am excited for them and just watching them grow in the last four or five months together, it made me more proud of where they are now."

Understanding there will be hurdles for a first-year program, especially a new program in one of the best conferences in the country in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), the team echoed its coaching staff's sentiments about toughness and playing hard, and according to freshman attacker Thomas Armetta that is what the Hawks will show immediately Friday.
"It's great being a part of a first year program. All of us coming from the Northeast area to play at New Paltz and our expectation is just to go out there and play our hardest no matter win or loss. We just want to put our all on the field and leave no regrets on there," he said. "Coach Stew and Coach [Dylan] Neisler, they're great coaches. They preach attitude and effort every day in practice. The only thing you can control is your attitude and effort and if you bring that to your practice you're going to have a good day."

As a first-year program the Hawks will deal with the obstacles of putting together the culture and chemistry to compete against established teams. The Hawks are made up of 16 freshmen, five transfers and two former club players, and despite the youth on the roster they are ready to compete and grow the foundation of what is expected to become a prolific program. SUNY New Paltz has a great opportunity to see where they stand against a Soaring Eagles program that is coming off a 3-12 season with Elmira also opening up its 2020 campaign Friday.

"It's an honor to be a part of this new program and we're all not going to take it for granted and we're going to do the most we can with it, and run with it," said SUNY New Paltz junior defenseman Joseph Bradbury. "Can't wait, finally get to fight someone else besides each other and just so happy to be here. That day is on my calendar and looking forward to it."

Numerous players have stepped up at times over the course of their preseason and Stewart expects a number of players to contribute early, especially with the development each one of his guys has shown since they began practicing together for the first time this past fall to the weeks leading up to their opening game against the Soaring Eagles.

"Every single last one of them surprised me," Steward said. "Every single last one of our guys brings something unique to the table. Whether that is from a game play standpoint or a competitive standpoint or a skill standpoint or leadership, every single one of them brings something very valuable to this year's program. Like I said, I couldn't be more proud of where they are now. I think we have taken really good steps in the right direction as a first year program."

The Hawks unfortunately had their lone scrimmage canceled earlier this preseason due to the water crisis that struck the village of New Paltz, so Friday's contest will be the first action the team will see against another opponent. Elmira, meanwhile, will see its first action of the season, as it returns its top four point leaders from last season including sophomore attacker Sam Shaw and senior midfielder James Mayer who combined for 39 of the team's 57 goals in 2019. The Soaring Eagles averaged about four goals per game as a team last year, shooting 19 percent, while allowing nearly 17 goals against an outing.
"I think we're all very excited to suit up against Elmira," Armetta said. "We just want to see another team on the field and instead of going against us, we want to show what we got against Elmira. So, we're definitely excited and looking forward to it."

To gain team experience and first-year momentum, they are scheduled to play the first half of their season with eight non-conference games. The latter half of their season consists strictly of SUNYAC opposition, which will test the first-year abilities of the Hawks.

Following Elmira, SUNY New Paltz will take on Farmingdale State (March 4), Bard College (March 7), Purchase (March 11), Keene State (March 15), SUNY Delhi (March 19), Cazenovia (March 21) and Mount Saint Mary (March 25) before entering SUNYAC play against defending champion SUNY Cortland — a program that is ranked top-25 in the nation heading into the year. Stewart stressed the importance of getting as much out of their non-conference games before facing the prolific Red Dragons and beginning conference play.

"It is very important. Out of conference play any coach will tell you this is a tune up for your out of conference schedule," he said. "So that first few games it is more about seeing where we are from a skill standpoint and understanding what we need from a conditioning standpoint and where the I.Q is with the systems that we're running and attacking that full on leading into the first conference game. For us, our first conference game is against Cortland so we have a lot of figuring out to do before we see one of the best teams in the country in the next coming weeks."

The Hawks are eager to get out and make history of becoming the first men's lacrosse program. Fittingly, they will have the opportunity to do so on the South Turf at 3 p.m. Friday.

"I see a lot of potential in us," Armetta added. "[We're] young, but we have four years together so when we build that chemistry in those four years we're going to build something special here."

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