New Paltz, NY -- The State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer schedule for 2021 was released Monday, as the squad is eager to get back on the pitch and work toward a winning season for the first time in nine years.

The 2012 season was the last time the Hawks finished over .500, ending that year with a 12-5-2 record. The 2021 season will be the first in two years for the club, who will seek to improve from a 4-11-2 campaign in 2019. The 2020 season was canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The quest to turn things around begins Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. at Vassar, whose rivalry with the Hawks has been one-sided in recent years. The last time SUNY New Paltz faced the Brewers was in 2018 when they fell, 2-0, marking the fourth consecutive game that the Hawks haven't scored against their cross-river rivals. SUNY New Paltz will look to flip that script this season.  

The SUNYAC schedule for SUNY New Paltz begins with four away games starting Sept. 24, as the team will play at The College at Brockport for a 4 p.m. game, before taking on the reigning conference champions SUNY Geneseo at 1 p.m the next day. The Hawks then travel to SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Plattsburgh Oct. 1 and 2,respectively, the following weekend, taking on the Bears Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. and then playing the Cardinals at 1 p.m. SUNY New Paltz starts its home conference schedule Oct. 9 against Catskill Cup rival SUNY Oneonta at 1 p.m. on the South Turf Field, and then cap its regular season Oct. 23 at home versus SUNY Cortland, who finished 2019 with a 7-0-2 SUNYAC record.

The first round of this year's conference tournament begins Oct. 30 with the semifinals and championship taking place at the higher seeded team's campus Nov. 3 and Nov. 6, respectively. The Hawks are looking to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 and, if they do, the first two rounds are likely to begin the following week of November with the NCAA Championship hosted by North Carolina at Greensboro Sports Commission Dec. 3 and 4.

To view the full Hawks' women's soccer schedule, click here.

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