For the third consecutive year, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team have qualified for the SUNYAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament.

In the last two postseason appearances for the Hawks, they've seen their playoff hopes fizzle in their opening round. This year's edition of the Hawks, however, which features 12 upperclassmen who have tasted the disappointment of 2021 and 2002, look to right the record and move on to the SUNYAC semifinal round. The hurdle in front of them is a six-hour trip to face No. 4 seeded Buffalo State for a quarterfinal matchup, pitting No. 4 regionally ranked SUNY New Paltz against the No. 6 Bengals.

The Hawks, who finished the regular season with a 9-2-4 overall record and a 4-2-3 SUNYAC mark, met Buffalo State on the Bengals home field Sept. 23, prevailing 2-0 on goals by Joseph DiPreta and Alex Wyant in a match that was very evenly played. Buffalo State, which closed out its regular season Tuesday night with a 3-2 loss to unranked Hobart, finished the regular season with a 10-4-3 overall record and a 5-3-1 SUNYAC mark.
Buffalo State is looking to return to the SUNYAC semifinals after last season's 4-8-5 record — the team's first losing season since 2014. After scoring only 16 goals in 2022, sixth year coach Francesco Cardillo beefed up his offense and in 2023 the Bengals have amassed 48 goals, second only to Cortland's 49, while conceding 19, for a 2.82 goals per game average against their opponents 1.12 average. Buffalo State has outshot its opposition 266 to 192 and were 134 to 89 in shots on goal. As a team, they have collected 34 assists and 70 corner kicks, while making 68 saves. The Bengals scored a season high of seven goals twice this season, which came against SUNY Morrisville and Alfred University, while keeping a clean sheet in five of 17 contests.

Buffalo State's potent scoring has been shared by 13 different players, led by Diego Rivera (SO/F/East Meadow, NY) with 14 goals, four assists and three game winners. Next is Joseph Desmonie (SO/F/Valatie, NY), coming off the bench, with seven goals and two assists. Manu Prieto (JR/F/Cascais, Portugal) has netted five goals and a team leading six assists, while Ali Mohamed (SO/M/Lackawana, NY) has scored four goals, three of them game winners, with five assists. Yousif Kowa (SR/D/Buffalo, NY), a 2022 All-SUNYAC selection, has five goals, three of them gamers, with one assist. Frank Colella (JR/F/Staten Island, NY) follows with three goals with JB Almontaser (FY/D/M/Lakawana, NY), Nacho Caceres (JR/F/Hopewell Junction, NY), and Stephen Haven (FY/F/Cheektowaga, NY) all with two each to round out the players with multiple goals for the Bengals.

Shae Wirt (JR/Overland Park, KS) has done the yeoman's work in goal for the Bengals, starting 14 of 14 games, allowing 14 goals in 1,215 minutes of play for a 1.04 goals-against-average with 53 saves and four shutouts. In the regular season matchup against SUNY New Paltz, Wirt gave up two goals and made five saves. Senior goalie Max Shoemaker (Niagara Falls, NY), who played the entire match Tuesday against Hobart, has 306.27 minutes under his belt, allowing 14 goals for an 1.47 goals-against-average with one shutout and 14 saves.
 
Meanwhile, the Hawks are led by sixth-year coach Kyle Clancy who guided the program to their fifth and third-consecutive postseason berth. In order to move on to the semifinals, SUNY New Paltz will need to continue to play the stellar defense it has become known for, while amping up its offense to ensure a victory over the Bengals.

The 2023 edition of the Hawks have scored 29 goals while allowing a paltry seven, for a 1.93 goals per game average, holding opponents to 0.47 goals per game and have recorded eight shutouts. SUNY New Paltz has outshot the opposition 332 to 129 and has 125 to 86 shots on goal. The Hawks have added 22 assists with 75 corner kicks, limiting their foes to 68 corners, and have totaled 49 saves over the 15 game season.
Leading the Hawks offensively is Joseph DiPreto (JR/M/F/Clifton Park, NY) with six goals, a team leading six assists and three game winning scores. Yare Harris (JR/F/Kingston, NY) has added four goals and three assists with one game winning goal, while Owen McGarrity (SR/D/Massapequa Park, NY) netted five goals and one game winner. All-SUNYAC Philip Varner, Jr. (GR/M/Berlin, NJ) and Gabriel Cruz (SR/D/Nesconset, NY) each have three goals, with Varner adding three assists and Cruz one. Cruz also had three game winners for the Hawks. Adding two goals each were Brian Boylan (SR/M/F/Massapequa, NY), Brandon Davenport (SR/F/Kingston, NY), and Alex Wyant (So/M/Beacon, NY); Boylan recorded two assists and Davenport one; Davenport also had one game winner but has missed significant time due to injury. Thomas O'Neill (JR/M/Massapequa Park, NY) and Alejandro Londono (SO/M/Mamaroneck, NY) each contributed a goal each to round out the Hawk scoring.

Christian Micheli (JR/Carle Place, NY) is having another caliber year after earning his first All-Conference nod last season as he once again anchors a stingy Hawks defense. Micheli started all 15 games, allowing seven goals for a 0.49 goals-against-average with 49 saves. Joining him on defense is All-Region center back Owen McGarrity and All- SUNYAC center back Tim Kane (SR/D/F/Staten Island, NY), along with outside backs Ryan Bochenski (SO/D/Eastchester, NY), and Samuel Snider (FY/D/Oceanside, NY).

Kickoff for the SUNYAC quarterfinal match is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Coyer Field on the campus of Buffalo State University.

Regular Season Highlights


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