New Paltz, NY — Last season, the State University of New York at New Paltz, which at the time were the reigning SUNYAC Champs, were upended on the road in the conference semifinals against the Geneseo Knights.
 
On Wednesday, the Hawks returned the favor.
 
In a tight battle between the two programs, No. 2 seeded SUNY New Paltz triumphed, holding onto a 2-1 win to advance to its eighth SUNYAC finals appearance while putting an end to Geneseo's 2023 run.
 
"It definitely means a lot for us to do that to them this year, because we were definitely destroyed last year about how that resulted," said SUNY New Paltz senior midfielder Hannah Ackerman. "We really just came in knowing we had to work really hard, because it's definitely hard to beat a team twice but for the upperclassmen, we know what it's like to win a SUNYAC Championship. We're just trying to give the whole team that champion mindset, so that going into the next game we're ready to go because we're that much closer to being there."
 
The Hawks (14-4 overall, 5-1 SUNYAC) off the whistle had a hot start to the game with Miranda Britton immediately winning possession back for the hosts and earning a corner just a minute into the game. The first five minutes, SUNY New Paltz garnered three penalty corners with two shots on goal but for the last 10 minutes the Knights controlled the ball in their offensive half with the Hawks struggling to clear their defensive 25. They held on though, and fought to win possession down in the circle with Ackerman intercepting a pass to start the transition the other way, finding Tama who earned a corner with 21 seconds left.
 
 
The game changed in the final seconds, as SUNY New Paltz worked hard to maintain possession inside the circle, not allowing the quarter to end until it capitalized with a goal. Ackerman seemingly gave her team the lead with eight seconds left. The Hawks began celebrating, but the officials called the goal back as Ackerman was deemed outside the circle with the Knights getting a stick on the shot. SUNY New Paltz wasn't deterred by the reversal and instead turned around anchored down, won the ball back on its press and earned another corner just before the buzzer sounded at the end of the period.  
The Hawks garnered five consecutive corners before a shot from Ayden Fleming put the ball in front of goal. Geneseo was unable to clear the rebound, resulting in a penalty stroke. Ackerman calmly stepped up to take the attempt and the senior buried the shot to push her team ahead, 1-0.
 
"Even when the time runs out, we have to give every last effort," Ackerman said. "And even if time runs out, we have to have our stick down, feet moving, just doing every little thing to get the ball in the back of the net."
 
The Knights tied the game in the opening minutes of the second quarter after taking advantage of a corner, as Olivia Hernick slid a pass to an open Katrina Clare for the score. SUNY New Paltz countered though with eight minutes remaining, which started on a smooth transition from the back. The ball was first played to Sam Moran, then over to Madeline Meyer who found Morgan Woolley. Woolley had a nice one-touch pass that opened up Britton into the circle who earned another corner for her team. The Hawks took advantage, as Britton inserted to Ackerman who gave to Tama, then immediately back to Ackerman for a rip. Amanda Quenneville this time got a touch on the shot and re-directed into cage for the go-ahead goal.
 
Geneseo had a chance to tie before the half, earning a corner of its own with 25 seconds left but Meyer got her stick down for the tackle and cleared the other way to end the threat. SUNY New Paltz held on from there and after a tame third quarter, it stymied one last offensive threat from the Knights with five minutes remaining in the game.  
On back-to-back corners for Geneseo, Gail Comiskey came out and made a key save with Woolley there to clear away from danger. The Hawks defense then buckled in and didn't allow anything too dangerous around the cage for the remaining time, as the hosts ate enough clock to close out for the win and avenging their semifinal loss from a year ago.
 
"We just push each other to work hard and we're definitely just trying to keep the flame going," Ackerman said. "This team just really wants it. Even though half of them haven't been to a SUNYAC Championship, little wins like this feels like it so we're just going to bring that energy into the next game."
 
SUNY New Paltz held the advantage in shots, 15-6, including 14-4 in shots on goal, while totaling 13 corners to the Knights' nine. Tama and Ackerman led the team with four shots apiece with Ackerman finishing with a goal and an assist. Comiskey, meanwhile, tallied the win after making three stops in 60 minutes of action.
 
The Hawks pursuit of a seventh SUNYAC Championship continues Saturday, as they travel to face top seeded SUNY Cortland. The two programs have faced each other in six conference final games, the most recent being in 2021 — the last time SUNY New Paltz earned the SUNYAC crown.
 
The No. 14 nationally ranked Red Dragons won in the regular season matchup earlier in the year, 1-0.
 
"It's on the road, but we're just going to play like we're at home," Ackerman added. "[We're going to] have fun, but also just get them two and two because our last game was only a 1-0 loss. It's definitely going to be a close game, but we're ready to compete."

Post-Game Featuring Hannah Ackerman


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