New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's lacrosse team prepares for its second SUNYAC matchup versus SUNY Geneseo Saturday on the South Turf Field at 1 p.m.
 
Saturday's matchup is another first for the SUNY New Paltz men's lacrosse program. In the last full season for the Knights in 2019 they ended 4-2 in the conference, and an 8-10 overall record. SUNY Geneseo earned a semifinal win over SUNY Plattsburgh and  advanced to the final versus SUNY Cortland who beat the Knights 13-9. In the 2021 season Geneseo was in the West side of the SUNYAC division alongside SUNY Brockport, Cortland and SUNY Oswego. The Knights finished their season 6-4, including 5-3 in the regular season. A semifinal win against Oneonta advanced Geneseo to the final where they fell to the Cortland Red Dragons, 11-8. 
 
The Knights enter the game 3-5 overall and 1-0 in the SUNYAC with a win over Oneonta 8-2. Geneseo has three players tied for leading goals, including fifth year Jimmy Atkinson with three assists, sophomore Robert Boneillo with two assists, and senior Sean Byrne also with two assists. The Knights will enter the game with 63 goals and scoring divided up between 16 different players. Geneseo is coming in after a 12-7 loss against nationally ranked St. John Fisher College. 
"I think we're pretty excited," said Hawks sophomore attacker John Reese. "The first game is definitely a letdown, but this week we've been working really hard and we're hoping to give a much better fight.I think if we play our systems and do what we know how to do, then we can definitely give a good game and have a good chance."
 
The Hawks, currently 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the conference with their SUNYAC loss to Brockport. The game versus the Golden Eagles was a tight battle until the second half when Brockport pulled ahead to secure the win, 15-5. 
 
"I'm definitely feeling pretty good. I started off a little cold and then once I got one the goals started flowing so I'm hoping just to keep that going in the next game and then everyone after that," said Reese.
 
Reese leads SUNY New Paltz with 16 goals and four assists. Freshman Attacker James Flannagan is close behind with 10 goals and six assists. The Hawks goalies, sophomore Ryan Steinhart and junior Nate Lindsay, have just about split time so far this season. Steinhart with a .681 save percentage and Linsday with a .543. 
 
Defensively, SUNY New Paltz has allowed about 11 goals per game on nearly 50 shots a contest, while offensively have totaled 50 goals to average about seven per game with a season-high of 10 coming against Manhattanville, the Hawks only win of the season thus far. 
 
"Offensively, we just been focusing on our main offense and the proper ways of where we should be positioned and just trying to generate more offense than better shots," Reese said. "If we get better shots than we did the last game, then we'll have more success against Geneseo."
 
SUNY New Paltz will take on the Knights Saturday at 1p.m. on the South Turf Field.

Preview Interview with John Reese


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