New Paltz, NY — Winning streak extended to four.
 
The State University of New York at New Paltz added another tally on the win column Saturday after defeating visiting SUNY Plattsburgh on South Turf Field, 18-9.
 
The Hawks broke several milestones with the win, as they improved their winning streak to four games — the most in program history — set a new single season record for wins (4) and are over .500 for the first time since going 1-0 in the inaugural game played on February 28, 2020. They also notch their first ever victory over the Cardinals and just their second ever SUNYAC win after defeating SUNY Oneonta last season at home.
 
"To be honest this is the expectation," said first-year SUNY New Paltz coach Dylan Neisler. "[Former coach] Dwayne [Stewart] and I set out to do this four years ago, and it just so happens it's happening now. I don't think we're doing this crazy thing. We're just playing to our standard and expectations. Once you start talking about those things and putting them into a clear and concise idea, guys start believing in it. I'm glad we're having success, but the job is not done. Our guys want to make the conference tournament and one isn't good enough. We have two games next week and we need them both. We'll prepare how we always do, but we're just continuing what somebody else who's a little bit smarter than me started. We're just figuring it out as we go and they're growing and believing in themselves and what they're doing, but yeah, it's just another day."
 
From the opening faceoff, the Hawks took care of what was in front of them Saturday. Matt Brignati won possession, SUNY New Paltz ran through its set and scored just one minute into the game thanks to Anthony Senecal, setting the tone from the start.
 

The offense had one of its most efficient performances of the season, shooting at a nearly a 50 percent clip, while matching a season-high in goals with 10 different Hawks getting in on at least a point, including long pole defenseman Michael Devoe who pushed the score 2-0 immediately after another faceoff win by Brignati, which notched the senior his first career goal.

The two-goal cushion allowed SUNY New Paltz to stay in front the rest of the game as the hosts responded after scores by Plattsburgh in the ninth, seventh and fourth minute of the quarter with goals by Deacon Hill, Ryan Scully and John Reese, which helped establish a 6-4 cushion entering the second period.
 
Devoe forced a turnover to open up the second and the Hawks pushed in transition with Aidan Gregory clearing the ball the other way, resulting in a goal by Ryan Scully. They added on two minutes later off a save by Ryan Steinhart. SUNY New Paltz cleared the ball and earned a chance on offense for John Reese who finished on a feed by James Flanagan to create an 8-4 advantage. Thomas Armetta made the score 9-4 with just more than nine minutes to play, rifling a shot past the Cardinals' Dan Clements off an assist by Scully.  
A penalty helped Plattsburgh get on the board once again, but following a timeout by Neisler, SUNY New Paltz regrouped for the final possession of the half and capitalized with a goal by Armetta who worked around the crease to take a 10-6 lead into the break.
 
The Hawks stayed in control the rest of the way with Steinhart having a career day in goal to keep his team's hefty cushion. The offense continued to reward his efforts between the pipes with scores on the other end. Following a nice save low by Steinhart, Senecal cleared the ball for SUNY New Paltz and soon after the Cardinals were hit with a slashing penalty. James Flanagan took advantage, as Ethan Scully fed the attackman for his first of the day.
 
SUNY New Paltz totaled two more in the third in the final three minutes. Off a save by Steinhart, Ethan Scully took it himself to cage and ripped a shot for his sixth of the season. Devoe came up with the loose ball on the ensuing faceoff after Plattsburgh was given a 30-second pushing penalty and Aiden Jones capitalized soon after to produce a seven-point advantage heading into the fourth.
 
Plattsburgh scored three minutes into the final period to get as close as 14-8, but Steinhart and the Hawks' defense held on, while Reese and Armetta piled on to create a 10-goal lead with three minutes to play. The Cardinals broke the draught in the final minute to solidify the 18-9 outcome.
 
"Every single day we're just figuring ourselves out more and more," Steinhart said. "I think the offense today really came out and had a great shooting day. We have a bunch of weapons on our team and finally it's all coming together after years of hard work. It's been nothing but up hill, and we just need to keep bringing it to the next level and keep succeeding, bringing ourselves to a higher level."
 
Plattsburgh out-shot the Hawks, 50-37, had less turnovers (11-15), held the slight advantage on ground balls (32-31) and were even on faceoffs (15-15), but the difference was Steinhart who stopped 24 shots in 60 minutes of action, setting a new career-high and also setting a new program record he set himself in 2021 (22).
 
"Honestly, all around I think we did a very good job," Steinhart said. "I think the offense had a crazy day when it comes to shooting and the defense gave me shots that I could see and low angled shots that I could save well. We cleared the ball well and our 10-man ride worked really well. All the pieces just came together today. We just love to see it."
 
"I thought today Steiny stood on his head and had a very good day, but other than that I thought we struggled today [defensively]," Neisler said. "I didn't think it was our best effort on that side of the ball and holding under 10 is great but we have higher standards than where that ended up being. Where some of those shots were, I think film will be fun on Monday, but it's just another step."
 
SUNY New Paltz were 3-for-4 on extra man opportunities, while killing 3-of-4 penalties for Plattsburgh. Reese finished with a career-high eight points, one shy of the single-game record set by Armetta last season, however his seven goals is the most by a Hawk in a single game in program history.
"The beautiful thing in the way we play offense is depending on what day it is, somebody else has a day," Neisler said. "Tom Armetta was last game against Delhi, you had Aiden Jones against Mount Saint Mary, you had everybody in other games and today was JR's day. That's just a part of the way we play offense and kind of how we communicate through that. We called [Reese] out in the third quarter, we didn't feel like he was playing up to his standard and after that you kind of saw what happened, but he needs to continue to take steps and play 60 minutes instead of a really good 30 or a really good 45, but he'll get there. He's figuring it out."
 
Armetta followed Reese offensively with five points (three goals, two assists), while Ethan and Ryan Scully each had three points apiece. Briganti totaled a game-high 13 ground balls, setting a career-high and single-game program record, while also going 15-for-30 on faceoffs.
 
 SUNY New Paltz hopes to push its winning streak to five and six next week, as it returns home Wednesday to face St. Joseph's-Long Island in a rescheduled non-conference matchup before going on the road against one of the best in the SUNYAC in SUNY Geneseo Saturday.
 
"Is it nice to win at home? Yes. Is it nice to win in the way we did? Yes. But it's just one game and for us… this is our expectation," Neisler reiterated. "We're not shocked that this happened. We play Geneseo on Saturday and that's one we have to have and that one is a road game and I'm pretty sure we haven't won a conference game on the road yet. For us, those are the steps that need to be taken. It's one game. This journey is going to be long. I said a corky quote before the game that, 'a man on top of the mountain didn't fall there,' and it's true. We're trying to climb a mountain for the first time, and this is just one step, and we'll see where it goes after that. It's just one day and one game…. We still have a lot to prove."
 
The Hawks are set to host the Golden Eagles on South Turf Field Wednesday at 3 p.m. before facing the Knights on the road April 1 at 1 p.m.

Post-Game Interview Featuring Ryan Steinhart


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