New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz released its 2023 women's soccer schedule Monday.
 
While the 2022 season was one of the best seasons in Hawks women's soccer history, earning an 11-4-2 overall record and a 6-2-1 SUNYAC mark, coach Mike Eckberg — the reigning SUNYAC Coach of the Year — and his squad look to not only continue that success but to surpass it. And to do so, they will have to face the challenges of one of the most competitive schedules they have ever faced.
 
The 16-game schedule includes matchups against three teams that finished in the final top-25 national poll (according to D3soccer), four which landed in the last NCAA Division III regional rankings and were 2022 NCAA DIII participants, and 11 others which qualified for their respective conference postseason tournaments.
 
SUNY New Paltz opens 2023 on South Turf Field Sept. 1 against Russell Sage College, which the Hawks downed 3-0 in last year's season opener before finishing out the weekend at RPI Sept. 3. Last year's matchup turned into a tough 90-minute stalemate.
 
SUNY New Paltz then jumps into the fire, meeting with last year's No. 19 ranked Montclair State University at Montclair. The Hawks follow that with a road trip to the Drew University Fall Festival, meeting first with Stockton University and then host Drew University. Continuing on the road, SUNY New Paltz will then face Hudson Valley rival Mt. St. Mary College. Home again at South Turf Field, the Hawks will host Skyline Conference semifinalist Manhattanville College, before concluding their non-conference schedule against last year's No. 20 ranked Scranton University at Scranton.
 
After a strong non-conference stretch, the Hawks enter SUNYAC play and their quest for a SUNYAC championship with nine consecutive conference matches, beginning at home on Sept. 23 against Buffalo State. Last season, SUNY New Paltz bested the Bengals 3-1 at Buffalo. Two important away matches follow, first at SUNY Plattsburgh Sept. 27, and then at the defending SUNYAC champions SUNY Geneseo Sept. 30. The Hawks have bested the Cardinals for two straight years, looking to build that win streak to three, while they'll try and earn their first victory over the Knights since 2012. The reigning SUNYAC Champions defeated SUNY New Paltz in a tight, 1-0 game on South Turf Field last season before ending their season in the SUNYAC semifinals at College Stadium with a 3-2 win.
 
Three home games follow: SUNY Potsdam Oct. 4; SUNY Brockport Oct. 7 and SUNY Oneonta Oct. 11. The Hawks close out their 2023 SUNYAC campaign with three road matches: at SUNY Oswego Oct. 14, at SUNY Cortland on Oct. 18 and finally at SUNY Fredonia on Oct. 21. SUNY New Paltz earned wins over each of those conference opponents last season, except for a 2-2 tie against the visiting Lakers and a 2-0 loss against visiting Cortland, with the latter falling in the SUNYAC finals against Geneseo in penalty kicks. The Red Dragons still earned an at-large bid into the tournament and finished just outside the top-25 ranking at the end of 2022.
 
The SUNYAC postseason championship tournament begins Nov. 1, with the finals set for Nov. 4. The NCAA DIII tournament will begin Nov. 10.

To view the full 2023 women's soccer schedule, click here. 

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