For the nine seniors on the State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team, its regular season collegiate careers could not have had a better finale than Saturday's home match against Hudson Valley rival Vassar College. With both teams having NCAA postseason tournament aspirations, the matchup looks to be another classic between these two nationally ranked squads.

The No. 18 ranked Brewers make the 13.2-mile trek across the Hudson to meet the No. 19 ranked Hawks at 1:30 p.m. on the North Turf Field. Vassar holds a 12-7 series record over SUNY New Paltz, including a 5-1 victory in 2019.

Holding an overall 11-5 record, with a 4-3 Liberty League mark, the Brewers have lost their last two games, a 2-1 overtime loss to William Smith Oct. 23 and a 1-0 loss to Scranton Oct. 27. Against six common opponents with the Hawks, Vassar has defeated Skidmore, St. Lawrence, and Rochester, losing to Kean, Ithaca, and RPI. SUNY New Paltz has defeated St. Lawrence, Rochester, RPI and Ithaca, losing to Skidmore and Kean.

With 43 goals scored, the Brewers have been led by sophomore Hailey Brigger (F/M, San Diego, CA) and junior Ella Pearl (F, San Francisco, CA) with seven goals, eight assists, two game winners and seven goals, five assists, respectively. Close behind with six goals, four assists, two game winners is senior Carina D'Souza (D/M, Mountain Top, PA). Junior Avery Bauman (M/F, Westbrook, CT) and first-year Gianna Trunfio (F, Clinton, NY) follow with five goals each with Trunfio netting one game winner. Rounding out the top scorers are first-year Lelilani Llames (M/F, Grapevine, TX) with three goals and one assist and senior Sophie McGrath (D/M, Yarmouth, ME) with two goals, one assist and one game winner. 

Despite five losses, the Brewers defense has been stingy, holding opponents to 15 goals, a 0.94 goals per game average and limiting the opposition to 7.8 shots per game. Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Dumaresq (Barbstable, MA) has played every minute between the pipes for the Brewers, with a 0.94 goals-against-average and 50 saves.

The Hawks, who met Oneonta at home Thursday afternoon and coming away with the 4-0 victory to end the SUNYAC regular season undefeated for the first time in program history, have already locked up their 12th consecutive SUNYAC tournament appearance.

With 50 goals, averaging 3.57 goals per game on 20.6 shots per game, the SUNY New Paltz offense has been led by two underclass players: first-year Morgan Woolley (F, Blue point, NY) with 11 goals and three assists, and sophomore Hannah Ackerman (F, Nesconset, NY) with 10 goals and five assists. Woolley leads the team with four game-winning goals, while Ackerman has totaled three game winners. Juniors Natasia Plunkett (F, Holland Patent,,NY) and Julia Cummings (B, Mohegan Lake, NY) follow with eight goals, three assists, two game winners and six goals, six assists, three game winners, respectively. Senior Jessica Ascencao (M/B, Mohegan Lake, NY) has a team leading 10 assists, with three goals. Also, with three goals each are senior Shannon Barnhardt (M/F, Massapequa, NY), freshman Amanda Quenneville (F, Centerport, NY) and junior Jamie Wagner (M, Cicero, NY).

The SUNY New Paltz defense has allowed just 19 goals all season, an average of 1.36 per game and has limited the opposition to 10.3 shots per game. The Hawks' two senior goalkeepers, Ryan Dowling (East Northport, NY) and Mackenzie Mortimer (Fairport, NY) have outstanding statistics: Dowling with a 1.04 goals-against-average, with 42 saves and a 4-1 record. Mortimer has compiled a 1.82 goals-against-average, with 34 saves and an 8-1 record. Combined, the Hawks goalkeepers have a 1.36 goals per game average.

The Hawks are set to host the Brewers in their regular season finale Saturday at 1 p.m. on the North Turf Field.

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