New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team advanced to the program's seventh SUNYAC Championship game after defeating visiting No. 4 seed Oneonta, 2-0 Wednesday on the North Turf Field.
The Hawks (15-2 overall) didn't have the same dominating effort as the last time they faced the Red Dragons (3-13) on the North Turf Oct. 28, as their offense struggled to create chances in front of goal. However, with the game scoreless midway through the fourth quarter, junior forward
Jamie Wagner came off the bench swung momentum by scoring back-to-back goals in less than a minute to be the difference in the game.
"Having players come off the bench and provide that spark and energy is huge, also building confidence moving forward," said SUNY New Paltz coach
Shanna Szablinski. "I think it's huge to show that we have depth and there's players no matter where they are can make an impact on and off the field. That was good for us to see."
The Hawks earned a pair of corners in the first quarter, but Oneonta did well to limit anything dangerous on goal with the hosts not getting any shots on either of those chances. Their best opportunity of the quarter came from
Shannon Bernhardt, as the senior intercepted a pass in the middle of the field off her team's press. Bernhardt dribbled into the circle and fired a shot on goal, but the Red Dragons made the stop.
Gallery: (11-3-2021) Field Hockey vs. Oneonta SUNYAC Semis
With about eight minutes left in the half, Bernhardt found Ackerman in transition who played a ball through for
Amanda Quenneville running on. The freshman got in the circle and played the ball to
Natasia Plunkett who fired a shot at Oneonta goalie Kristy Campana, but the junior made the save. On the ensuing corner, Ackerman had two good looks, but the Red Dragons defense closed out with Campana making another save to preserve the scoreless stalemate.
Ackerman gave the Hawks one last scoring chance before halftime, earning a corner a second before time ran out of the quarter. SUNY New Paltz couldn't take advantage, however, as Oneonta once again cleared without a Hawks shot on goal.
"I just think our offense, we were stagnant with making runs and getting ahead of the ball," said Szablinski. "We struggled with a dynamic first touch. We're touching right into the same space and that limited our opportunities. The other thing was we weren't playing together. There wasn't support if we got jammed up with a reception it was just kind of stand-still, locked down, versus urgency off the ball. That definitely impacted the way we were able to produce any attack."
Plunkett and
Morgan Gunter each had a chance on goal with Gunter's shot narrowly finding the back of the cage, but Campana continued to play big for the Red Dragons. With Oneonta transitioning the other way, it earned its second corner of the game. The threat was thwarted by
Jessica Ascencao though, as the senior made the tackle off the opening pass and helped her team clear the ball back up the field.
Neither team created anything threatening until Wagner broke the game open in the fourth. The junior gathered a pass from Bernhardt just outside of goal and reversed sticked a shot, beating Campana coming across, through her legs for the score. Less than a minute later, Wagner doubled down on her goal total, as SUNY New Paltz kept the pressure on following the initial shot by Ackerman with Wagner hitting a rising shot over Campana for the score.
"I think it just means that I did my job," Wagner said. "I just told myself that I need to be in the correct position. I need to be there. We are getting so many balls in and if the balls are there that's my spot. That's where I need to be."
The Hawks kept possession for the last 10 minutes, not conceding any shots in their defensive end and closed out with the 2-0 shutout victory.
Their offense created more opportunities in the final 30 minutes, totaling 12 of their 22 shots in the second half.
"We talked about layering up, so as soon as the forwards get it then the midfield pushes up and defense also push up," Wagner said. "They were double and triple teaming us, so in case the forwards lost it then the midfielders were right there to help us win it back and I think that really helped us push the momentum forward."
Ackerman led the way with eight shots, six on goal. Ascencao and Plunkett followed with three goals apiece, while Ascencao was credited with two defensive saves in the game.
Ryan Dowling earned the start and played all 60 minutes but didn't need to make a stop to help in the shutout.
The win pits the top-seeded Hawks against No. 2 Cortland in the SUNYAC Championship for the sixth time in the last nine seasons. SUNY New Paltz holds the advantage in conference championship games, 4-1. The last time the Hawks hosted the Red Dragons, they earned a 4-2 victory Oct. 9.
"Even though we didn't play our best, I think we are picking up the intensity, especially for Thursday and Friday's practice and then bringing that same intensity to our game on Saturday," Wagner said.
SUNY New Paltz is set to host the SUNYAC Championship against Cortland Saturday at 1 p.m. on the North Turf Field.
SUNYAC Semifinal Post-Game with
Jamie Wagner
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