New Paltz, NY — The "bounce back" is a constant occurrence across sports. When a team has a rough year, or a stretch of rough years, and the next season propels themselves to success, whether due to an influx of talent, a coaching change, or a change in mindset (or even all three factors), a bounce back season can happen quite often. The State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team is expecting one of those bounce-back seasons.
 
The last time the Hawks took the field was in 2019 when their season ended with four straight losses —three of which were shutouts – that capped off their fifth consecutive losing season. Despite the unfortunate record, the program showed tremendous growth on the field and after a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic they are looking forward to taking that growth and producing results, which will turn into their first winning season and postseason berth since 2014.  
 
"We have so much potential," said SUNY New Paltz senior forward Sky Pedroza. "We have our new players. We have a lot of energy, we have a lot of girls who can score this year, we have a lot of freshmen who have been on the net [throughout the scrimmages during the preseason] … a lot of players, a lot of speed up top and we're really ready to get started."
 
 
SUNY New Paltz coach Mike Eckberg enters his fourth season at the helm and also believes his freshmen class is ready to make an impact right away. 
 
"All of our freshmen are fantastic," he said. "There are six of them and they are super dynamic all-around."
 
The class includes midfielders Maggie Cameron, Alexis DeLeo, forwards Parris Burke, Rachel Eisert, and Emma Voege, along with center back Hannah Pugliese. DeLeo was a Second-Team All-State selection as a senior at Monroe-Woodbury High School after helping her team to two state championships in 2018 and 2019. Eisert was named one of Newsday Long Island's Top-100 players as a senior, and Voege won a League VIII Championship as a senior. Eisert and Pugliese played three seasons together at Massapequa High School, winning the Nassau County Conference A-1 Championship during their senior season.
 
Eckberg, who took over as head coach of the program in 2017 after a one-win season in 2016, has high hopes for his team this year that he said has one singular mindset. 
 
"It's we not me," he said. "Our focus has been to keep driving forward, to build off the next. It's a very competitive environment, but also one that created a strong community and a strong sense of togetherness."
 
Along with a promising first-year class, the Hawks return strong upperclassmen that saw ample time on the field in 2019. Ciara Devlin highlights the incumbents, as the senior back was named as a Third-Team All-SUNYAC selection as a sophomore two years ago. Junior Katie Buquicchio will play alongside her on the backline, while captains Calin Ruoti and Pedroza will help boost the team's attack on the forward line. Olivia Ingalsbe, another senior captain, will provide depth on defense, while Iona College transfer Lisette Polomo will see time in the midfield wearing the orange and blue officially for the first time this year. Junior Jess Funke will be featured primarily at center back as well, while Dana Salinas and Siena Diaz-Colon will provide depth at the outside wing positions. SUNY New Paltz has two sophomores, Kyra Russo and Sophia DeLorenzo, who will play their first collegiate action this fall. Russo and senior Danielle Angyal will fight for time in net
 
"This has to be one of the most talented groups of girls that I've ever seen on this team together," Ruoti said. "We all are so individual, and we all have our own set of skills, but we work really well together." 
 
The Hawks already showed glimpses of their ceiling this preseason with promising outings in scrimmages against Hartwick and King's College. Eckberg and his team set the standard for this year, which is to get into the SUNYAC Tournament by staying true to their "day-to-day process."
 
The march to the SUNYAC tournament, and hopefully beyond, begins with a road game at Vassar Wednesday.
 
SUNY New Paltz has played the Brewers 14 times since they began the matchup in 2002 and have a record of 4-10. The Hawks opened their 2018 season against Vassar, losing 2-0.
 
Three of the Hawks' four wins in 2019 came in non-conference play with their only SUNYAC victory coming at home against Oswego State. SUNY New Paltz finished 1-7-1 in the SUNYAC in 2019 and over the last five seasons, the team is 6-33-6 in conference play. While the Hawks certainly look to rid themselves of disappointments past, Eckberg does not want his squad to lose sight of staying the course. 
 
"It's really up to us to be better than we were yesterday, and not stay in the weeds of what other teams are doing or how they're doing, because it has nothing to do with what we're doing," he said. "We have to stay true to that." 
 
Ruoti echoed the same sentiment as her coach, while also recognizing how much the team has grown in the two years since their 4-11-2 finish.
 
"We want to be a November team, not an October team," she said. "We are completely different. We have transfers, we have new freshmen, and we are all pushing each other to go as far as we possibly can.
 
"I really believe that our skills and ability to do passing patterns will be our biggest asset. In practice we focus a lot on set pieces and passing patterns. We are very team oriented and it's exciting to see all of it work together."
 
SUNY New Paltz has the chance to put its process to the test Wednesday, kicking off the season at Vassar College at 4 p.m.
 
"There's a lot of really great players out there," Eckberg said. "There's some really great key pieces. Everyone has a big role to play. I think it's going to be an amazing season." 


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