If history is any potential indication of future results, then the SUNY New Paltz women's soccer team certainly has a challenge before it as it opens its 2021 SUNYAC schedule this weekend against western New York rivals The College at Brockport and SUNY Geneseo.
 
The Hawks begin their SUNYAC account Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium on the campus of The College at Brockport. The Golden Eagles hold a 16-3-5 record over the Hawks, including a 5-0 victory the last time these two teams met in 2019. The Hawks most recent best showing against Brockport was a 1-1 overtime tie in 2017.
 
Brockport sports a pre-conference record of 3-2-1, with wins over Houghton, St. John Fisher and Keuka, a tie against Nazareth, and losses to Alfred and a 5-2 setback to RIT last Saturday.
 
Offensively, the Golden Eagles are led by first-year player Katie Hotaling (Delmar, NY) with four goals, including one game winner. Junior Julia Masaro (North Tonawanda, NY) has netted three goals and assisted on three others, with one game winner to her credit. Senior Sydnee Smith (Scotis, NY) and junior Brylie Hapeman (Albion, NY) have contributed two goals each, with Smith netting one game winner. 
Defensively, junior Kayla Usborne (Knoxboro, NY) has been a stalwart in goal, playing in all six games with 25 saves and a 1.53 goals-against-average. She also has two shutouts to her credit.
 
On Saturday, SUNY New Paltz travels south from Brockport on I-390 to match up against the Knights of Geneseo. The Knights have had a storied program of late, claiming SUNYAC championships in 2017 and 2018, runner-up in 2019 and were NCAA tournament participants in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The last meeting between Geneseo and the Hawks was a 1-0, 2019 win by Geneseo, moving their overall mark against SUNY New Paltz to 19-4-2.
 
The Knights sport an early season record of four wins and two losses. Wins include shutouts against Rochester, Ramapo and Penn State-Abington, with a 2-1 victory over local rival Nazareth. Geneseo's two losses were two 1-0 setbacks against nationally ranked William Smith and regionally ranked RIT.
 
The Knights' high-powered offense is led by senior Hannah Sullivan (Marlboro, NY), a two-time All-SUNYAC selection, with three goals and two assists. Joining her in the scoring column is sophomore Juliette Frischman (Brighton, NY) with three goals, sophomore Haylee Evertson (Waterford, NY) and junior Lindsay Wright (Dix Hills, NY) follow with two goals each. Five other Knights have added a goal to the team's 15 on the season.
 
Leading Geneseo's stifling defense is senior goalie Angel Bennett (Rochester, NY). Her 0.57 goals against average in 315 minutes of play leads all SUNYAC keepers. First-year goalie Mollie Collins (Orchard Park, NY) with 225 minutes in the net, boasts an 0.80 goals-against-average, good enough for third in SUNYAC. The duo combines for an outstanding 0.67 goals against average in six games played.
 
The Hawks, winners of their last two games, a 2-0 victory over Bard and an impressive 7-1 win over Manhattanville last weekend, have raised their season mark to 2-2-1 as they enter the fray of SUNYAC competition.
 
Leading SUNY New Paltz is freshman Rachel Eisert (Bellmore, NY) with four goals. Graduate student and SUNYAC Player of the Week Sky Pedroza (Levittown, NY) follows with three goals. Junior Siena Diaz-Colon (Floral Park, NY) has added one goal and three assists.
 
Sophomore Kyra Russo (East Greenbush, NY), with 435.36 minutes between the posts, holds a 1.24 goals-against-average, with 16 saves and one shutout this season.
 
The Hawks are set to face the Golden Eagles Friday at 4 p.m. and then kickoff against the Knights Saturday at 1 p.m.

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