New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team is looking to rebound this weekend following a tough 3-1 loss Oct. 16 at Buffalo State. The defeat was the first in seven games for the Hawks, dropping their overall record to 11-3 and their SUNYAC record to 6-1. 

This Friday and Saturday, SUNY New Paltz, who actually moved up to No. 19 in the country in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll released this week, will stay on the road as it plays its last two conference games of the regular season. First, they tangle with Oswego State, who are 5-4-4 overall on the year and 4-2-1 in the conference. The weekend will be capped off with a showdown against SUNY Cortland, which currently leads the SUNYAC at 12-2-1 and sport a 6-1 conference record, while ranking ninth in the country in the Coaches poll. 

"After a tough loss I just like to dive into the next game," said Hawks senior goalkeeper Marc DePasquale. "Focus on the things I can control and keep making adjustments to improve." 

SUNY New Paltz coach Kyle Clancy said his team's focus is on point heading into the weekend following a difficult loss. 

"We had a good film session on Monday, and identified some key areas where we can be a little bit better," Clancy said. "Better execution, better vision. The moments were there to be able to create more, we just were a little off with execution. We're going to be well prepared for this weekend." 

DePasquale echoed his coach's thoughts. 

"Keeping everyone locked in was important," the fifth-year senior said. "We had a tough loss but we've been playing well this year, so it's been important for us to keep trusting each other and work on the improvements." 

The Hawks have mixed results in their history with the Lakers, having won 12, lost 15, and tied two contests with the team dating back to 1990. The last time the team's met, on Oct. 12, 2019, Oswego came away with a 2-1 victory. One year earlier, SUNY New Paltz prevailed in a home contest, 4-1. 

This season, the Lakers have scored 20 goals, the sixth-highest total in the SUNYAC, while taking 176 shots, which ranks fourth. They are ninth in assists with 12, and eighth in points with 52. They are led in points by sophomore midfielder Kyle Gehnrich, who has registered 10 points on the year. Oswego State is one of just three teams to defeat the Bengals this year, accomplishing the feat in Buffalo on Oct. 1 by a 5-2 count. However, it is coming off a 3-0 loss to the Red Dragons on Oct. 16. 

"They are always a very organized team and very well-coached and throw some different wrinkles at you," Clancy said of the Lakers. "You have to be ready to adjust whether it be different press or different shoots as well as how they build."

The Hawks matchup with SUNY Cortland is one of the season's biggest in the conference. The ninth-ranked Red Dragons are 9-1 in their last 10 contests while SUNY New Paltz is 8-2. Saturday's opponent is second to Buffalo State in the SUNYAC in shots (220), goals (32), assists (26), and points (90). The Hawks rank 10th (113), third (25), fourth (21), and fourth (71) in those same categories. 

Cortland's leading goal scorer is Blake Aronson, whose 10 scores are tied with Brockport's Matthew Stephaniw for second in the conference. Aronson also has the SUNYAC's fourth highest point total, with 20. The Red Dragons' 53 saves rank fourth.

SUNY New Paltz has won two straight games against Cortland, 1-0 on the road in 2019 and 5-1 at home in 2018. They will look to continue that streak against a team whose history has not been kind to them, as the Hawks have won nine out of 22 all-time matchups. 

"They're another dangerous team," Clancy said. "They've got some great individual players who like to put you in a couple of spots, who have the ability to create on the dribble and create really good delivery. It's one of those games where you have to be locked into individual roles, be in good shape as a team, and make it difficult for them to get into those areas where they can be dangerous." 

SUNY New Paltz is down to its final three games of the regular season, and with the playoffs on the horizon, its head coach sees his team locked in to get two victories this weekend that will put them on top of the SUNYAC. 

"Every single game has been an important one," he said. "It's just taking care of business, focusing on what we've been doing which is the process and executing well in everything we do. At the end of the day it's just being prepared and having a really good game plan and putting yourself in the best position to have a good result each game." 

"Oswego is always a good team with good players, so we know that's going to be a tough game," DePasquale added. "Cortland is nationally ranked so we know they'll be a tough game. It's important for us to just keep going one game at a time and focus on ourselves as we go into a weekend with two battles."

Marc DePasquale Weekend Preview Interview


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