The State University of New York at New Paltz men's lacrosse team will head up to SUNY Oneonta to take on the Red Dragons for the first game of a home-and-home series Friday.
 
"We're working hard each day, so the guys that are here are ready to go and despite losing people we just need to be ready for whoever we play," said Hawks freshman attacker John Reese. "The team has lost a few players due to COVID-19, but they are still maintaining a competitive mentality. I think the biggest challenges have been all the other distractions, whether it was [COVID-19] or missing guys. But we just have to learn to go around those obstacles and just do the best we can and go out there and compete." 
Oneonta is 2-0 and coming off a 10-9 win over SUNY Plattsburgh last Friday. The Red Dragons other game was an 8-6 victory over SUNY Potsdam. They haven't won in convincing fashion, but they have managed to pull off close victories in each of their first two games. Their leading scorers are Connor Gallagher and Thomas McRae, both with four goals on the season.
 
SUNY New Paltz is 0-3 and coming off a 15-8 loss to SUNY Potsdam Monday. The contest was close through the first half, but a slow start to the second half filled with several miscues on offense eventually put the game out of reach. The Hawks are looking to bounce back this week against the Red Dragons, an opponent that has proven to be tough and competitive so far. The leading scorer for SUNY New Paltz is freshman Ryan Kaelin, who has scored four goals. Right behind him are Reese and sophomore Ryan Scully, each with three.
 
"We lost a couple of players because of [COVID-19], so we constantly have guys fluctuating in and out," said Hawks freshman defenseman Rafael Fillyaw. "With all the guys coming in and out, it's kind of hard to get [everyone] from the whole team on the field… so we try to make the best of an undesired situation."
 
Although SUNY New Paltz has lost some guys due to COVID-19, the team is doing its best to fight through the adversity and focus in on the next game.
 
For the first time in their young history, the Hawks men's lacrosse team will match up against Red Dragons. Opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. Friday on the SUNY Oneonta campus.

To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.