New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team's season came to a heartbreaking end Wednesday, as it dropped the SUNYAC semifinal 1-0 against the visiting SUNY Oswego Lakers from South Turf Field.
In what was a very competitive and tense contest with a conference championship appearance at stake, the Hawks started out well on the offensive end, as Papis Konate hit a strong ball from the left side in the fifth minute that was saved. Just four minutes later, the home team had another chance but it went high over the net. In the 11th minute, Philip Varner had a good chance but it was just wide left.
The most tense moment in the opening half for both sides came in the 34th minute when Kenneth Roby was heading up the right side into the box and was taken down, with no penalty called on the play. The home crowd gave the officials an earful, but it was to no avail as no call was made. The Hawks had another chance in the 44th minute, but the ball was met in the air by SUNY Oswego goalkeeper Brian Terra, who made an impressive play.
The second half got off to a rough start for SUNY New Paltz, as it took the Lakers just five minutes to score the game's first goal, which came on a header by sophomore midfielder Kieran Gilroy that went by goalkeeper Marc DePasquale's right side and into the back of the net. 
SUNY Oswego had another chance, this time on a free kick, in the 55th minute but it was corralled easily by DePasquale, one of his four saves on the day. The Hawks had an opportunity shortly after but it was defended well by the visitors, who also got a shot on goal in the 70th minute that was again saved by DePasquale.
SUNY New Paltz nearly tied the contest in the 72nd minute as Brian Boylan maneuvered through the defense and hit one strong, but high over the net. Shortly after, the home team was awarded a penalty but Terra leaped to make a good save that preserved the Laker lead.
The Hawks would get an on-goal header in the 76th minute and another chance in the 85th minute but both balls were saved by Terra, who came down awkwardly on the play but would remain in the game. He finished with three saves on the afternoon.
SUNY New Paltz earned couple more chances to save their season, first on a free kick in the 89th minute, but the shot went high over the net. Their last effort was in the final minute on a corner but it too was defended well by the Lakers.
Though SUNY New Paltz out-shot SUNY Oswego, 9-5 in the game, it was the Lakers who capitalized on their one major opportunity, and as the clock ticked down to zero, the realization that a great season was over sunk in for the home team and its fans.
"It was a tough ending to the season," said Hawks coach Kyle Clancy. "But I am proud of the step we took as a program and of the work these guys put in to have such a historic season."
The home semifinal defeat was an abrupt and difficult end to a season in which a new sense of credibility and national attention was brought to the program. Their year included a seven game win streak and nationally-ranked placements of 19th and 21st on two separate occasions. Clancy led his group to a 12-win campaign after eight wins in 2019 — the most since 1988.
Leaving the program are graduate students Marc DePasquale and Tommy Jelstrom, as well as seniors Spencer Ryczek, James Maltes, Ryan Stevens, Pedro Marshall, Paul and Jonathan Tola, and Matthew Araujo. All made great contributions to the program in their time as Hawks.
Next season's senior group will include Varner, Ryan Hilliard, Gabriel Cruz, Andrea Bentoglio, Brandon Davenport, Michael Horner and Kenneth Roby.
Make no mistake, despite Wednesday's tough loss, the future remains bright for a men's soccer program that is clearly on the upswing heading into 2022.
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