New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team ended the regular season an impressive 14-2 overall and for the first time ever an undefeated, 6-0 in the SUNYAC. However, the program's ultimate goal is another conference title and a deep NCAA push, and that trek starts Wednesday against No. 4 seed Oneonta.
 
The Hawks ended the regular season with an impressive 2-1 double overtime, shootout victory over No. 18 Vassar College Saturday on Senior Day after defeating the same Red Dragons they'll face Wednesday to a score of 4-0 two days prior. All the momentum is swung toward SUNY New Paltz, which will be back on the North Turf Field for the fourth consecutive game where it has yet to lose, standing at a perfect 6-0 at home. 
On the verge of their best season in program history — the Hawks are two wins away from matching a program-most wins —SUNY New Paltz has dominated its in-conference competition. Through six SUNYAC games, the Hawks have out-scored their opponents, 56-20 and boast seven shutouts, while out-shooting their competition, 323-164 this season. Their regular season matchup against Oneonta Oct. 28 was no different. SUNY New Paltz allowed just one shot on goal, which was saved by senior Ryan Dowling, piling on 23 shots, 15 on cage, while earning nine penalty corners to the Red Dragons' one. The offense was evenly distributed in the win, with sophomore Hannah Ackerman, senior Jessica Ascencao, junior Jamie Wagner and freshman Amanda Quenneville all finding the back of the net. 
 
SUNY New Paltz is averaging nearly four goals per game, while giving up just more than one against. Ackerman leads the team in points with 27, as she's totaled 11 goals and five assists in her first year of competition. She's followed by fellow sophomore Morgan Woolley who has tallied 11 goals and three assists. Junior Natasia Plunkett followed with nine goals and three assists, while Ascencao leads the team in assists with 12 to go along with her four goals on the season. Junior back Julia Cummings not only leads the team in minutes played but has also contributed six goals and seven assists on the season.
 
Seniors Ryan Dowling and Mackenzie Mortimer have split time in goal with records of 5-1 and 9-1, respectively, but Dowling has seen the majority of minutes in net as of late. She has allowed less than a goal per game — averaging .93 goals against — with 54 saves on 84 shots faced. Her performance the last month of the season has garnered her two SUNYAC/PrestoSprots Defensive Athlete of the Week awards. Dowling will play in her second postseason, as she earned the start during the Hawks' last SUNYAC Championship run in 2018.
  The Red Dragons won three games, two coming in conference to help garner the final seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. They are 0-7 on the road and have been out-scored this season, 45-18. As a team, Oneonta is second to last in the conference in shots (only behind winless Morrisville State) and are tied for last in goals with the Mustangs with 18, while coming in dead last in assists with 12. The Red Dragons are also second to last in goals allowed with 45 and goals against average (2.95) — again, only behind Morrisville.
 
Junior forward Morgan Fleming leads the team in points with 15 (seven goals, one assist). She is followed by senior forward Alexa Ryan who has totaled three goals and two assists.
 
Senior Kristy Campana has started 13 games in goal for Oneonta, yielding 36 goals on 151 shots faced with 90 saves, while holding a 3.27 goals-against-average and a .714 save percentage. Junior Jennifer Tumino has seen some time in goal as well, playing in seven games with two starts. She's totaled 30 saves on 44 shots faced, allowing 2.12 goals against with a .769 save percentage.
 
Both Campana and Tumino saw time against the Hawks Oct. 28. Campana got the start, playing through the first three quarters and made seven saves with Tumino closing out the fourth and tallying two stops.
 
Top seed SUNY New Paltz is set to take No. 4 Oneonta Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. on the North Turf Field.
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