Oneonta, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz Women's Soccer team traveled to Oneonta Wednesday for a SUNYAC conference matchup and took care of the hosting Red Dragons after coming away with a 4-0 win to stay undefeated in conference play.
 
The Hawks entered the game looking very good posting a 6-1-1 record on the season and coming off an excellent finish against Fredonia last Saturday. Oneonta (2-4-1 overall) struggled to get much offense going in the first half which allowed SUNY New Paltz to keep the ball on its attacking side of the field.
 
The first of four goals on the day came from freshman forward Brooke Kelleher halfway through the 14th minute off an assist from Rachel Eisert. At the half, the Hawks controlled the pace of the game posting 13 shots with eight being on goal, while totaling seven corner kicks and a 1-0 lead against the Red Dragons.
 
The second half was more of the same as sophomore midfielder Emma Voege put SUNY New Paltz up 2-0 in the 58th minute off an assist from Alexis DeLeo. Not very long after, sophomore forward Paris Burke found the back of the net after a pass from Jillian Dantona set her up nicely. Capping off the impressive day for the Hawks was freshman midfielder Mia Baldinger who netted her first collegiate goal to close out a 4-0 victory late in the 86th minute.
 
"I thought we created some really dangerous attacking opportunities in the first half, but didn't convert them," said SUNY New Paltz coach Mike Eckberg. "I loved our attitude in the second half. We focused on the product of play, had an excellent attacking mentality and sound shape defensively in transition." Goalkeeper Maddie Franklin recorded 90 minutes and finished the shutout saving the only three shots on goal for the Red Dragons. A goal each came from Kelleher, Voege, Burke and Baldinger with each coming off their own assists from Eisert, DeLeo, Dantona and Kelleher, respectively. Ally Donovan finished with four shots, all being on goal to lead the Hawks. For Oneonta, goalkeeper Claire Lepper allowed four goals on 21 total shots, 14 being on goal with 10 saves.
 
The win marks the seventh of the season for SUNY New Paltz, already matching last year's win total, while its 4-0 start in the SUNYAC is its first in program history. With a win over Buffalo State Saturday, the Hawks would match the most total wins since 2014 and last year's conference victories as it sits atop the league standings.
 
"Overall, I think what makes us special and it sounds cliché, but literally everybody brings something unique and different, tangibly and intangibly, to our program," Eckberg said "On top of that, everybody's bought into our process. They are eager and hungry to work every day. Their chemistry off the field is a huge factor and they continually invest in one another."
 
SUNY New Paltz is set to face the Bengals on the road Saturday at 1 p.m. The two teams went into overtime the last two seasons with the Hawks earning the win in 2021, 2-1 in double overtime.
 
"We know there's another level in us," Eckberg added. "We want to stay true to our process and continue to raise the level each and every day."

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