New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team secured its first SUNYAC playoff spot since 2012, the first postseason game it has hosted since 2011, and will now look for its first playoff win in 10 years against Fredonia State on Saturday.

SUNY New Paltz (7-5-3 overall, 5-2-2 SUNYAC) secured the fourth seed with a 2-0-2 finish to the season, earning eight points in the standings in its last four games. Last week, the team won in overtime against Oswego State on freshman forward Rachel Eisert's golden goal on Oct. 22, then worked to earn a gritty tie against Cortland the next day, helped by junior defender Katie Buquicchio's two corner kick headers. The last four contests of the regular season all finished in overtime.

"I'm so excited to be going into the playoffs this weekend, to be part of the [first] team that has made the playoffs in nine years," said Hawks freshman midfielder Alexis DeLeo. "It just feels amazing and we've worked so hard this season to be where we are."

"I am incredibly proud of our student-athletes and their continued grit day in and day out that they have displayed thus far," added Hawks coach Mike Eckberg. "The results are a tribute to their dedication to the process and commitment to one another." 

Last Saturday's tie, along with the Blue Devils' (10-6-2, 5-3-1 SUNYAC) loss against No. 1 seeded Geneseo, allowed SUNY New Paltz to edge them out in the standings and secure the right to play the first round playoff match at the South Turf Field. The winner of the game will move on to face the top seeded Knights in the semifinals.

"The fact that we're able to host our first round matchup is really awesome," said Hawks graduate student forward Sky Pedroza. "In all my years here, this is the first time we've made it to the SUNYAC tournament, and now we're hosting a home game. All season, we've been really good about getting in the net and on our set pieces, so we're really excited to see that play out [in this game]."

No. 3 Cortland is hosting No. 6 Brockport in the other first round game.

SUNY New Paltz previously played Fredonia State on the South Turf Oct. 15. The match resulted in a 1-1, double overtime tie after Buquicchio scored in the 61st minute to knot the score, but both teams couldn't convert the rest of the game.

"We learned that they're a very physical and good team," DeLeo said. "I think we underestimated them and we know going in to just keep up our intensity and play our game."

During the regular season, the Hawks scored 23 goals, with freshman forward Rachel Eisert scoring a team-leading seven in her rookie season to tie for fourth in the SUNYAC. Freshman midfielder Emma Voege had five assists to lead SUNY New Paltz, including three on corner kicks in the last three games, while junior Siena Diaz-Colon also contributed four assists. Buquicchio, named as this week's SUNYAC Defensive Athlete of the Week, finished as the conference leader in points among defenders after her four goal showing in the last two weeks of the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Kyra Russo finished with the sixth lowest goals allowed average (1.12) and tied for the sixth highest save percentage (.797) among qualified SUNYAC goalkeepers.

For the Blue Devils, they just finished below Cortland in scoring with 37 goals and a 2.06 goals for average (GFA). Gabrielle Alston is tied with Eisert with seven scores for fourth place in SUNYAC, while Katie Sellers has also contributed with five goals. In net, Sabrina Suriani just edges Russo in goals allowed average (GAA) with a 0.97 to 1.12 advantage. She has also been difficult to score on with 94 saves, second among SUNYAC goalkeepers, an .847 save percentage and six shutouts. 

It's a tough matchup for SUNY New Paltz, but it has already proved itself as one of the best teams during the regular season. Now, after nearly a decade, the Hawks are prepared to prove they are one of the best programs in the SUNYAC Tournament. 

"We were the underdogs this season," Pedroza said. "We were thought to not even make the tournament, so I think we've been surprising people all season. Every team we've played, we've been in the game. We've beat [No. 2 seeded] Plattsburgh, [the game against] Geneseo was really competitive, so I think we have a really good shot this year."

"'We Can, We Will'," Eckberg, citing the team's mantra this season, added on the team's chances. "Anything is possible with this group, finishing the conference season 5-0-2 after opening 0-2 on the road… It's about pursuing and finding the next level to enhance our preparation. Next level in training, our ideas going into the attack, our degree of communication and our mentality and hunger for the next level."

The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the South Turf Field.

Hawks vs. Fredonia SUNYAC Preview Video

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