With their final four conference games at home on the South Turf Field, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team looks to use its home field advantage to move further up in the standings and earn a spot in the SUNYAC tournament for the first time since 2012.

The Hawks (5-5-1 overall, 3-2 SUNYAC) will go up against western New York rivals Fredonia and Buffalo State Friday and Saturday, respectively, and both games will serve to be an important test that could result in capturing that coveted playoff spot.

SUNY New Paltz is 11-15-1 against the Blue Devils, earning a 2-2 double overtime tie in 2019 and against the Bengals, the Hawks are 8-13-4, losing in overtime, 1-0 the last time the two teams played in 2019.
 

"Going into this weekend we want to end it gaining another six points," said Hawks senior Brittany Morasse. "We want to carry the work we've been putting into our previous games into these next two games. We don't want to go in too comfortable. We want to bring our energy and continue to translate it onto the field and translate into goals."

Fredonia arrives in New Paltz with an 8-5-1 overall record and a 3-2-1 SUNYAC mark. Last weekend, the team split their home stand, defeating Potsdam 2-0, while falling 2-0 to Plattsburgh. This past Tuesday, the Blue Devils traveled to Erie, PA to take on Penn State-Behrend, losing the non-conference match, 2-0.

"We expect it to be a good game," said SUNY New Paltz senior and co-captain Olivia Ingalsbe. "We're working on keeping our intensity up and making sure we don't let our levels up, so it'll be some good, competitive games this weekend."

On top of the score sheet for Fredonia is junior Gaby Alston (Niskayuna, NY) with six goals. Second-year players Briana Grazen (Lancaster, NY) with four goals and three assists and Katie Sellers (Glenmont, NY) with four goals and one assist round out the top scorers. Junior Nikkie Barlow (Penfield, NY) has added one goal and four assists.

Junior goalie Sabrina Suriani (Manlius, NY) has started all 14 games for the Blue Devils, giving up 14 goals for a 1.06 goals-against-average, with 66 saves and five shutouts on the season. 
Following their matchup Friday against Fredonia, the Hawks will face Buffalo State, which is currently at the bottom of the conference standings at 2-11-0 overall and 0-5 in SUNYAC, losing to Plattsburgh 5-0 last Friday, and losing a heartbreaker in the 85th minute to Potsdam, 3-2. Buffalo State's two wins have been against Cazenovia College, 1-0, and Medaille College, 2-1.

The game will serve extra purpose for SUNY New Paltz, as the program will honor its seven senior members prior to the game, which includes Morasse, Ingalsbe and fellow seniors Cailin Ruoti, Sky Pedroza, Lisette Pedroza, Danielle Angyal and Ciara Devlin.

"This Saturday's senior game means a lot to all of us, seeing that the last couple years has not been what we've all expected, so the fact that we're able to have a senior game means a lot," Morasse said. "Just being able to do it with the girls on this team and just celebrate not only us but everyone this season is something I'm grateful for."
 
"This Saturday being Senior Day means the world to all of us, I think as a team and as seniors," Ingalsbe added. "Our group in particular has been through a lot with COVID and not having last season, and even just playing for the seniors from last year that didn't get their senior season and just playing for everyone, and really working together for this one."

Senior Erin Valente (Latham,NY) is the Bengals top scorer with three goals and one assist. She is followed by second-year players Macey Gioeli (North Tonawanda, NY) and Rachel Dolan (Grand Island, NY) and first-year Maya Campbell (Albany, NY) who each have one goal thus far.

The Buffalo State defense has given up 51 goals this season. Junior goalie Bella Vene (Deer Park, NY) has started 12 of 13 games for the Bengals, giving up 42 of those goals for a 3.50 goals-against-average.

"This week in practice, in preparation for our games this weekend we've been working on finishing the ball and making runs up top," Morasse said. "So getting through balls in back through and just making sure our target players are getting the ball in order for them to finish it."

At home last Saturday, SUNY New Paltz topped Catskill Cup rival Oneonta by a 1-0 score. First-year Alexis DeLeo (Harriman, NY) chose the right game to collect her first career goal, coming at 17:27 of the first half. She joins five other Hawks with a goal a piece on the year. First-year Rachel Eisert (Bellmore, NY) leads the team with five goals, Pedroza (Levittown, NY) follows with three goals and junior Siena Colon-Diaz (Floral Park, NY) is just behind them with two goals and three assists.

The Hawks stifling defense limited the Red Dragons to just four shots on goal, with sophomore goalie Kyra Russo (East Greenbush, NY) earning the shutout. Russo has started all 11 games, giving up 12 goals and 42 saves for a 1.11 goals-against-average.

SUNY New Paltz hopes to duplicate the success it had against Oneonta and continue to roll through SUNYAC play. A sweep against the Blue Devils and the Bengals would give the program five or more SUNYAC victories for the first time since 2011.

"I think given everything we've all been through on our own individual levels with COVID and as a program we are all really hungry to get after it this season," Ingalsbe said. "I think that's really shown with all the points we were able to rack up the past couple weekends and we're excited to continue that and going into postseason games."
 
The Hawks are set to face Fredonia Friday at 3 p.m. and Buffalo State Saturday at 1 p.m.

Weekend Preview Featuring Seniors Brittany Morasse & Olivia Ingalsbe


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