New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team announced its incoming class for the 2022 season Monday.
 
The Hawks are a year removed from one of their most successful seasons in nearly a decade, making the postseason after finishing the year 7-5-4 overall and 5-2-2 in SUNYAC play where they earned the No. 4 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. 
 
Coach Mike Eckberg's squad is primed to build off last season's success with another talented recruiting class, highlighted by seven incoming freshmen from Long Island. Each will play a role in the success of the program heading into Eckberg's fifth season at the helm.

"New Paltz Women's Soccer is making a huge stride forward and is incredibly excited to announce our 2022 incoming class," Eckberg said. "Our recruiting efforts have been stretched over the last 24 months to create this exceptional group of student-athletes. This highly touted, heavily recruited class is highlighted by back-to-back New York East State Cup Champions, New York County Champions and New York High School Champions. We are extremely confident in our 2022 class, their ability to impact our program on Day 1 as New Paltz Women's Soccer pursues a SUNYAC Championship and beyond."

Read more about each incoming Hawk below:

---

 
Mia Baldinger '26
Massapequa High School
Massapequa, NY
Defensive Midfield/Defense

Baldinger captained Massapequa High School to a 20-0-1 season in 2021, including the Chiefs 13th NYS Class State Championship, along with Class AA Nassau Championship and Class AA Long Island Championship titles. Baldinger was named an All-County selection last season and was an All-Conference pick in 2020.

"Mia is the purest of competitors," Eckberg said. "She is a sound defensive presence and versatile in multiple roles. Gritty, extremely competitive, combined with a championship mentality Mia has excelled at all levels. She is a phenomenal athlete and will be a massive impact to our program on Day 1."

In 2017, Baldinger was a member of the US Soccer Developmental Academy and last summer was chosen to Generation Adidas Select Team to train and play with Olympique Lyonnais Feminin in Lyon, France.

Along with soccer, the Massapequa, NY native competed in both basketball and lacrosse during her varsity career at Massapequa High School and will continue playing lacrosse at the next level as well, as she will star on the Hawks women's lacrosse team this upcoming spring. Baldinger comes from a highly touted athletic lineage, as her father played football at Wake Forest before starring in the National Football League for seven seasons, while her two uncles also starred in the NFL.

Baldinger is most looking forward to "building a special bond between the athletic culture," along with exploring New Paltz as a whole, but her athletic background ultimately influenced her on the decision to become a Hawk. 

"The athletic family and community is first class and the campus and overall environment is exactly what I was looking for," she said.


Brooke Kelleher '26
Smithtown High School West
Smithtown, NY
Forward

Kelleher, from Smithtown, NY, was a member of the 2021 Eastern New York State Championship team in both 2021 and 2022 and helped Smithtown High School West to a high school county championship this past fall. She will be inserted into the Hawks traditional 4-3-3 lineup to accelerate their attack, which scored 24 goals in 2021.

"Brooke has an excellent engine, great attacking mentality and will provide a spark to our front line," Eckberg said. "Brooke has the ability to impact any game at any time. She has scored countless game winning goals and will be a significant asset in our program."

Kelleher is excited to compete in the State University of New York Athletic Conference and be a part of the program's first title since 2011. Along with competing for a conference title, Kelleher chose SUNY New Paltz because of the close-knit culture Eckberg has built during his tenure.

"Everyone was very welcoming, the campus is beautiful and exactly what I was looking for and I love the family like atmosphere given off from the team," she said. "I am looking forward to becoming really close with the team and winning the SUNYAC."


Kelly Licata '26
Sachem High School East
Holbrook, NY
Midfield

From Sachem High School, Licata joined Kelleher has a member of the New York Eastern State Cup Championship winning team in 2021 and 2022. While starring for the varsity girl's soccer program at Sachem High School East, she earned All-Division and All-County honors as a senior in 2021.

Licata will play mostly as an attacking midfielder for the Hawks next fall and like Kelleher, will help bolster SUNY New Paltz's offense, which had ranked fifth in the SUNYAC in goals per game last season while also helping the Hawks with possesion in the middle of the field. 

"Kelly is a playmaker and maestro in the midfield," Eckberg said. "She can pull strings when needed, has an exceptional I.Q. and a true knack for sustaining tempo, changing points of attack and balancing special and simple moments on the ball. Her championship aspirations are visible by any peer. She is an excellent 360-degree midfielder, organizes well and will make a huge impact in our program."


Addison Weiner '26
Smithtown High School East
St. James, NY
Forward

Weiner, a St. James, NY native who played for Smithtown High School East and helped the team to a Class AA Suffolk County title, was named to the 2021 Newsday Top-100 Long Island Girls Soccer Players list. She was an All-Division selection in 2020 before being named All-League last fall.

Weiner will provide the Hawks with additional speed up top as she will be utilized in Eckberg's 4-3-3 formation.

"Addison is pure lighting. Her pace, grittiness, athleticism and competitiveness are inseparable traits that make Addison a pure threat to goal," Eckberg said. "She plays with a chip on her shoulder and finds ways to score in all environments. Addison will be a huge asset in our program."
 
Weiner said she is excited to be a part of the Hawks program and ultimately chose SUNY New Paltz because of the trajectory the women's soccer program is going in its ability to compete at a high level, along with having the right fit academically in her pursuit to become an elementary school teacher upon graduation.

"I knew it was a perfect fit for me," Weiner said. "I want to be an elementary school teacher and the education program at SUNY New Paltz is the best program for education. I also chose SUNY New Paltz because of the amazing soccer program they have."


Hannah Wellinger '26
Smithtown High School East
St. James, NY
Center Back

Like Weiner, Wellinger also starred for Smithtown East and captained the team to a Class AA Suffolk County Championship. She joined Kelleher and Licata on the New York Eastern State Championship winning teams in 2021 and 2022. A dependable defender, the St. James, NY native was selected to the 2020 Rising Junior All-Star team. 

"Hannah is a top rated defender all around," Eckberg said. "Simple and sound in her decision making, excellent distribution out of the back, great presence in the air, strong 1-v-1 defender and highly composed on the ball, she can shut down any and all types of attackers. She's always aspiring for the next level and will push our program to new heights. Hannah will be a massive impact to our program."

Wellinger connected with New Paltz on her recruiting visit and felt as though she was a good fit within Eckberg's program.

"The town is beautiful and there are tons of places I can visit in my free time," she said on why she chose SUNY New Paltz. "I also loved the athletics program. The girls were super nice and I liked the coaching style from what I have seen in clinics. New Paltz wasn't too far from home either so I can visit family whenever I want."


Samantha Wohlmut '26
Center Moriches High School
Center Moriches, NY
Outside Back
 
Wohlmut was a three-year varsity starter at Center Moriches High School and played in the Suffolk County Class B Championship. She was an All-County selection in 2020 and an All-Division pick in 2021. Along with playing for years for Center Moriches girl's varsity program, Wohlmut starred for the Red Devils' varsity girl's lacrosse program for the past three seasons and played two years of high school basketball. 

"Sam is a sound defender, extremely composed on the ball, highly accountable and collective in the back line," Eckberg said. "She is an excellent defender all around, and her competitive spirit will be contagious. She will make a big impact in our program on Day 1 and we couldn't be more excited."

The Center Moriches, NY native will play primarily at outside back for the Hawks. She is excited to continue competing at the next level and hopefully help the program to its first SUNYAC title in more than a decade.

"I'm mostly looking forward to becoming closer with my teammates and winning together," Wohlmut said. "I chose New Paltz because I really loved teh campus and the town. It was also great to play the sport I love."


Alexandria Ziemak '26
Farmingdale High School
South Farmingdale, NY
Outside Back
 
Ziemak, a South Farmingdale, NY native who starred for the Dalers varsity girl's soccer team was a member Italian Honor Society and the Student Government, along with being a Scholar Athlete in both 2020 and 2021. 

"Allie is ultra technical on the ball. Her quickness and I.Q. are exceptional. She makes excellent decisions on the ball," Eckberg said. "She can be simple and special in the same moment. We couldn't be more excited for Allie as she will be a vital asset in our program."

Ziemak will play along the Hawks' backline primarily at outside back. She decided on attending SUNY New Paltz because of the education program, but also because of the culture of the program. 

"I wanted to go to a college that had a more intimate feel and with strong academics," she said. "As I am pursuing a degree in education, I wanted a college that had a stand out education program and I also knew that I wanted to play soccer in college. I was drawn to New Paltz's outstanding women's soccer program. SUNY New Paltz met my needs in all areas. After spending time with the team and on campus, I felt as though SUNY New Paltz could be my new home away from home."


*********
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.