New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's lacrosse team (1-5) begins SUNYAC play versus The College at Brockport (4-2) Saturday at 1p.m. on the South Turf Field. 
 
The Hawks take on the Golden Eagles for the first time in program history. The inaugural season was cut short in 2020 and no SUNYAC games were played with SUNY New Paltz ending its season 2-2. In 2021 the conference was split into east and west divisions. The Hawks played SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Plattsburgh twice and one non-conference game versus Utica College. They ended their short second ever season 0-7. 
Brockport's 2020 campaign ended in just three games with no conference games played. In 2021 the Golden Eagles were in the west division of the SUNYAC conference alongside SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oswego. They ended their season 2-5 — their two wins against SUNY Oswego — as they too missed out on the postseason. 

Entering Saturday's game, Brockport is averaging 52.7 shots per game, with a total of 103 goals on the season and an average of 17.2 goals per game. Their top scorer this season, fifth year student-athlete Patrick Sheridan, earned 16 goals and five assists on the season, with 33 shots just himself and has already matched a career-high in goals with 16. The Golden Eagles primary goalie John Felice has a goals against average of 9.89 on the season, with a total of 42 goals against. 
 
SUNY New Paltz enters the game with an average of 37.2 shots per game, and a total of 45 goals and an average of 7.5 goals per game. Hawks sophomore attacker John Reese leads in scoring with 14 goals and four assists. Reese has long passed his 2021 freshman season stats of six goals and one assist. SUNY New Paltz goalies, sophomore Ryan Steinhart and junior Nate Lindsay, have split time in net. Steinhart averages 9.28 goals against per game and Lindsay averages an even 12. The two have a total of 64 goals against on the season. 
 
The Hawks and the Golden Eagles play Saturday on south turf at 1p.m. Click here for stream and live stats.

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