New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's lacrosse program has a short history — a four-game (2-2) first season in 2020 — and a single game so far for 2021, a tough 9-6 season opening loss to Utica College last Friday, a game that could have gone the Hawks way but for a depleted roster.

Despite the tough defeat, SUNY New Paltz coach Dwayne Stewart saw growth in his young team with underclassmen stepping into larger roles with various starters out. 

"What I want to see from them is just growth and the fight in the dog," said Hawks coach Dwayne Stewart. "Win or lose, I just want them to go out there have fun and compete. We didn't know this year was going to happen, so the only thing that we can do is go out there and play and have fun, so we can get better for the next games that are coming up in the next year." 
Especially pleasing was the play of second-year players Aidan Jones and Aidan Gregory, along with freshmen John Reese and Ryan Kaelin, all of whom scored for SUNY New Paltz to help carry the team offensively. Sophomore Jozef Harvan and freshman Matt Brignati controlled the face-offs, winning eight to Utica's four. Junior defenseman Joseph Bradbury and sophomore goalie Nate Lindsay (16 saves) anchored the defense against the Pioneers.

"I am proud of my guys. Guys stepped up in different positions and we did fight a good fight against a really seasoned, really good team in Utica," Stewart said. "The competition only goes up from there, so I am just looking forward in what they have more in the tank. We're going to need somebody to step up more than ever now."

Friday's match-up for the Hawks will be their first-ever foray into the very competitive SUNYAC East conference. SUNY New Paltz opens its conference account against the 2021 SUNYAC East preseason's No. 1 pick — the Plattsburgh State Cardinals, who are under first-year coach Andrew Hauk. 

"Very excited," said Stewart. "All I hear is how deep and how great the SUNYAC conference is and I love a challenge, and I love a challenge for my guys. So, to be able to play in our first game this upcoming Friday is something that I am very much looking forward to."

In 2020's short season, the Cardinals were just 2-2, but have appeared in eight consecutive SUNYAC championships prior to last season. With a 41-man roster, led by preseason All-America short-stick midfielder Justin Wise and leading scorer Dillon Scott (13 goals in four games), Plattsburgh is a formidable foe for the young and somewhat depleted Hawks of New Paltz.

"They have a first-year coach, so the systems I would imagine will change, but [Hauk] is a Plattsburgh alum so it might remain the same, and if they are we'll walk through their scout and not have any surprises on Friday," Stewart said. "I could imagine they are going to be just as great as they have been in the past this year and I am looking forward to the challenge."

The opening face-off is at 4 p.m. on the South Turf Field on the SUNY New Paltz campus.

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