The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) announced its annual All-SUNYAC women's lacrosse team Thursday and four SUNY New Paltz players were named to the squad. First year Morgan Atwater and seniors Alex Coyle and Ella Malanga joined two-time selection Kaitlyn Shaw on the All-SUNYAC squad.

"I am so proud of these four," said Hawks coach Randy Vite. "They are all more than deserving. Each of them played a crucial role in the success of our program this year and I am so happy they got the recognition they deserved."

SUNY New Paltz completed its most successful season in the 25-year history of women's lacrosse. The Hawks compiled only the second winning season in program history, posting a 9-7 overall mark with a 5-4 SUNYAC record. Their fifth-place finish in the SUNYAC standings (one place up from the SUNYAC pre-season poll) earned the Hawks their second straight trip to the SUNYAC Tournament and third in program history. They established new defensive marks for 16-game season, allowing just 143 goals with a 8.97 goals against average. Their 107 caused turnovers led all teams in SUNYAC play.

To view the full 2023 All SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse team, click here.

Continue reading to view all four of SUNY New Paltz's 2023 All SUNYAC selections:

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Second Team:

Kaitlyn Shaw (junior, midfield)
Rye Brook, NY/Blind Brook HS

Breaking out in her first full season last year, becoming the first Hawk in program history named to an All-Region team last season, Shaw returned for her third year with the program and started all 16 games in 2023, including all nine SUNYAC matches. She scored a team leading 52 goals overall, bringing her career record to 115 goals in three seasons and re-set the single season goal record, which she set herself last season at 50 goals en route to becoming the first, first-team all-conference pick a year ago.
 
"This year was different for Shaw because teams were prepared and ready for her," Vite said. "She often found herself in a face guard or against the other team's top defender. The fact that she didn't skip a beat and still broke her single season goal record is super impressive."
 
In SUNYAC play Shaw tallied 24 goals with six assists with a .717 shots-on goal-percentage. She placed eighth on the SUNYAC goals scored list. A 2022 first team SUNYAC select and a third team IWCLA Empire Region pick, she also contributed 10 ground balls, two caused turnovers and 30 draw controls in conference play.
 
On the year, Shaw led the team in goals (52), points (63), shots (114) and draw controls (53), while adding eight caused turnovers and 24 ground balls. She set a career-high in goals scored with seven against St. Joseph's Long Island earlier in the year and netted six-plus goals four times throughout the year — the most ever in a single season — which includes totaling six of the teams seven goals scored in their quarterfinal matchup against Brockport.
 
"Kaitlyn is so special because she is the definition of a two-way midfielder," Vite said. "She is so good on offense, defense and really stepped up on the draw circle this year. She is someone I never want to take off the field and makes an impact everywhere she is… Her performance in the playoff game against Brockport goes to show you what a competitor she is and how she lives for those big moments. She was so smart and really blew me away that game. She's such a special player."
 

Third Team:

Morgan Atwater (freshman, midfield)
Brighton, NY/Brighton HS

Morgan Atwater transferred to SUNY New Paltz after spending a semester at Division I Gardner Webb and quickly established herself as a player to be reckoned with.

Starting 14 of 15 games overall and eight of nine SUNYAC contests, she scored 26 goals with four assists overall with a shot-on-goal percentage of .702. In SUNYAC play she scored 20 goals, including two game winners, with a.714 shot-on-goal percentage, while, contributing eight ground balls, nine caused turnovers and 10 draw controls in SUNYAC play.

"Morgan was such an amazing addition this year," Vite said. "After we started conference play is when I think she found her groove and she really stepped up in big moments. By the end of the season, she was someone who I wanted to have the ball in her stick and take all the opportunities given to her. The ceiling is so high for her, and I can't wait to see what she brings to this program for the next three years."

Her presence on the field made teams account for not only Shaw, but Atwater as well proving herself as an offensive threat finishing second on the team in goals (26) and third on the team in points (30), while totaling 12 ground balls, 19 draw controls with 12 caused turnovers, second among middies for the Hawks.


Alex Coyle (senior, defense)
Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches HS

Coyle had a breakout final season for the Hawks, not only becoming an integral part of the Hawks' record setting defense, but also proving herself as one of the best defenders in the conference and in turn, one of the best defenders to play for the program.

Playing a vital part as the backer of Vite's zone defense, Coyle started all 16 games and totaled 25 ground balls — tied for third on the team — and 21 caused turnovers — tied for second on the team — to her credit, which were both career-high's. In SUNYAC play her 15 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers were tied for third and second, respectively, for the Hawks, while the intangibles she brought which don't show up on the stat sheet were unmatched on that side of the ball for her team.

"Alex was on a completely different level this year," Vite said. "She was our backer and the complete backbone of the defense. We adjusted our defense multiple times this year for different opponents and Alex was unbelievably smart in those adjustments. She always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, doing everything asked of her and more. I am so proud of the way she ended her four years here."
 
Coyle and Malanga are joined by just five other defenders to be named to the all-conference team for SUNY New Paltz.

 
Ella Malanga (senior, defense)
Riverhead, NY/Riverhead HS

Returning to the Hawks after stepping away last season, Malanga became a huge contributor immediately on the defensive end and in turn, she and Coyle joined just five other defenders for SUNY New Paltz to be named to the All-SUNYAC team.

"Ella was such a welcomed addition," Vite said. "She is so athletic and has such a high lacrosse IQ that she was such a great piece to our defensive puzzle. It was so great to see her back in action this year and I am so proud of the season she had."
 
A defensive leader for the 2023 Hawks, Malanga closes out her SUNY New Paltz career with a Third-Team All-SUNYAC selection. She was also named SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Week for April 10. She started all 16 regular season games, with nine SUNYAC starts. Overall, her 20 ground balls were sixth on the team, while her 31 caused turnovers set a new single-season program record and ranked her third in the SUNYAC.

In conference play for SUNY New Paltz, Malanga was first in both ground balls and caused turnovers with 18 and 22, respectively.

"Ella was so good with her back checks and really took advantage of any attacker that came her way," Vite added. "Not only did she get off great back checks, she came up with huge ground balls afterwards as well. She was so smart and disciplined with her checks."
 
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