New Paltz, NY — Sometimes, the fewest words carry the most weight. 
 
In the State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer locker room, they have a few on repeat. On repeat so they create a mindset, set a standard and set a bar. 
 
"Champions behave like champions before they are champions" is the motto Hawks coach Kyle Clancy has imparted on his team this season, as they embark on a year unlike any other before. 
 
The meaning of it is quite simple. Set the tone of acting like a champion, embodying what it means to be a champion. What that does, said Clancy, is create behavior that shifts the culture. 
 
"It's a mindset thing for our program," he said. "We are changing the dynamic of what New Paltz men's soccer is, the history of what this program is. We have a '65 team that accomplished tremendous things (they finished 12-1 and won the NCAA College Division Atlantic Coast Championship), but since that team, it's very limited in terms of continuous success. We're going to change that where we believe we're champions and believe in it before we're even there."

 
 
That belief is centered around a group that has a strong mix of veterans and young guys this season who are hungry to compete and win, and a group that, as Clancy said, understands what it takes. 
 
"We're going to count on everybody. We're trying to build this to where there is a level of depth at every position that we can choose from to go out and have an impact," he said. "Our two captains, Ryan Hilliard and Spencer Ryzeck, they've gone above and beyond on and off the field. And then Marc DePasquale is a great example, he's been around for quite a while and knows the ins-and-outs of how we do things."
 
Pasquale, a fifth-year senior, has started 28 of the past 29 games for the Hawks and joins 6-foot, 5-inch junior Andrea Bentoglio and freshman Christian Micheli as the team's goalkeepers. 
 
SUNY New Paltz will also look for big things from sophomores Owen McGarrity and Billy Castoro, both of whom were All-County at Massapequa High and Garden City, respectively.
 
The Hawks bring back their 2019 leading scorer in senior James Maltes with senior Ryan Stevens healthy after a breakout freshmen campaign where he tallied five goals and one assist in 12 games played. They are joined by Brian Boylan, as the sophomore will get his first taste of collegiate soccer this season but is expected to make an immediate impact.
 
Providing more veteran leadership to the team are the Tola brothers, Paul and Jonathan, both of whom will be seniors in 2021. The brothers, from the Bronx, NY, spoke highly of this year's group. Jonathan will provide a solid presence on the back line. 
 
"Being here for four years now, I want to be that voice and that rock, and make sure all my players are solid," he said. "Giving 110 percent every time is the expectation that we have every time we step on the field."
 
Both Jonathan and Paul Tola were freshmen in 2018 when the Hawks made the SUNYAC Tournament, but due to a season-ending injury only Paul suited up during that year. The Hawks earned the No. 2 seed in the conference playoffs, the highest in half a century, and hosted The College at Brockport in the quarterfinal round. Jonathan Tola is expecting the Hawks are back in the postseason in 2021 and for the program to hoist a SUNYAC trophy at the end of the year.
 
"My expectation is to win SUNYAC," he said. "That's our first goal and then we'll move on to the national championship. We're going for the top." 
 
"We expect to go all the way," added Paul Tola. "First off, as SUNYAC champs and then competing very well in the national tournament." 
 
In addition to the senior class, which also includes Matthew Araujo and Pedro Marshall, the team is comprised of juniors Philip Varner, Gabriel Cruz, Michael Horner, Brandon Davenport, and Kenneth Roby, along with the aforementioned Hilliard and Bentoglio. SUNY New Paltz's sophomore class will make their collegiate debut this fall after 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19. The second years consist of Colden Abbott, Castoro, Boylan, Papis Konate, McGarrity, Benjamin Perez, Steve Kirtyan and Hofstra transfer Tim Kane. The freshmen are Thomas O'Neill, Gino Mazzella, Tenmetey Tetteh-Narty, Joseph DiPreta, Micheli, and Griffin Witdorchic. De Pasquale and Tommy Jelstrom are graduate students.    
 
The Hawks' 2021 journey begins with a home game against Union College Wednesday. SUNY New Paltz is 5-10 against the Dutchmen in 15 lifetime meetings. Following its outing against Union, the Hawks will play Labor Day weekend at the Drew University Tournament, where they will face Rowan University and FDU-Florham on consecutive days, Sept. 4 and 5. Lifetime, the Hawks are 0-2 against the Devils of FDU. SUNY New Paltz will face the Profs nearly 21 years to the day of their first meeting (Sept. 9, 2000). SUNY New Paltz won the Drew University Tournament in 2019 after defeating Stockton University and the hosting Rangers.
 
After the tournament, the Hawks split four games at home and on the road, with home contests against Merchant Marine and Farmingdale State preceding road games against Vassar and King's College (PA). They will then play four straight home SUNYAC games before finishing on the road for six games, five of which are in-conference affairs.
 
"It's certainly more challenging," said Clancy of the road stretch. "We're very confident in who we are and who we are going to be no matter if we're playing home or away. I'm excited for the challenge and I'm up for the challenge, and I know the guys will be, too. We want to come away with a lot of points and we're confident that we can do so, no matter who we're playing.
 
"The goal is to win the SUNYAC," he said. "We don't have aspirations to just make the playoffs. We want to be a top-three seed, and we want to win the SUNYAC."

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