Expectations run high for the State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer program as the Hawks embark on their 38th collegiate season. The 2022 season proved to be a breakout that moved the New Paltz women to the forefront of SUNYAC and regional soccer.

With all six All-SUNYAC selections returning, with a strong core of now experienced second and third year players and another talented recruiting class, SUNYAC Coach of the Year Mike Eckberg and staff have the potential to challenge for the SUNYAC title and the NCAA DIII tournament invitation that comes with it.

The road will not be easy, though. The 16-game schedule includes matchups against three teams that finished in the final Top 25 D3soccer.com national poll, four of which earned NCAA DIII regional recognition and were NCAA DIII tournament participants and 11 others who qualified for their respective conference postseason tournaments.

"I think this team has more potential than any team this program has ever had," said Hawks captain Rachel Eisert. "I think the score of [our opening scrimmage against Hartwick] reflects that — 7-0 win at home to set the tone this season I think it really can't get better than that. So, I think the team is going to go very far this year."
 
 
With only four players lost to graduation: midfielders Siena Diaz-Colon, Jillian Dantona, Dana Salinas and goalie Kyra Russo, SUNY New Paltz returns its entire remaining roster from their 11-4-2 and 6-2-1 SUNYAC season, with nearly all having played a minimum of 600 minutes last season.

Leading the run is All-Region junior forward/midfield Eisert (Bellmore, NY/Wellington C. Mepham HS). Eisert also garnered Second Team All-SUNYAC honors while leading the Hawks with eight goals and six assists with three game winning goals. Returning upfront is SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and All-SUNYAC Third Team select Brooke Kelleher (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown HS West); Kelleher was second in scoring with six goals, two assists and two game winners. Junior Gaby Treble (Oyster Bay, NY/Oyster Bay HS) added six goals and one assist and classmate Parris Burke (Bellport, NY/Bellport HS) hit the net for four goals, four assists and one game winner. Graduate student and co-captain Ally Donovan (Fairport NY/Fairport HS) returns to complete her career and contributed four goals, one assists and one game winner a year ago.
"There is no weak link on this team," Eisert said. "From day one we have established that every single person on this team has a role and important one at that, so having that deep bench definitely instills a lot of trust and a lot of confidence in each other and in this program so it's definitely very exciting especially in that front line."

The team's midfield features multiple players who will contribute on both ends of the field. Second year Mia Baldinger (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa HS) netted two goals with three assists during her first season, graduate student Katie Buquicchio (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park HS) anchored the tight Hawks defensive line predominately at center back last season, but might also see some time in the midfield, as she's a year removed from a Third Team All-SUNYAC selection. Junior Emma Voege (East Northport, NY/Elwood-John H. Glenn HS) added a goal and four assists last season, while fellow third-year Alexis DeLeo (Harriman, NY/Monroe-Woodbury HS) added three assists from her defensive midfield position. Sophomore Kelly Licata's (Holbrook, NY/Sachem HS North) lone goal proved to be the game winner against Brockport.

The Hawks defense sparkled in 2022, led by two All-SUNYAC selections and a host of others who could easily earn honors. The SUNY New Paltz defense gave up a paltry 15 goals overall in 17 matches, a sterling 0.88 goals against average, with nine shutouts.

Leading the defense once again will be team co-captain, All-SUNYAC Second Team pick and graduate student Jess Funke (Lanesville, NY/Smithtown HS West), along with co-captain, goalie Maddie Franklin (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa HS) who was named to her first All-SUNYAC team in her first season with the team. Franklin wrote herself into the Hawks record book with her overall season 0.85 goals-against-average. Against SUNYAC foes, she had a 0.67-goals-against average, with three shutouts in nine conference games.
 

"I definitely feel different this year," she said. "I think overall everybody has leadership skills and I don't think the captains necessarily have more leadership than everybody else. I think even starters everything like that everybody just feels really, really comfortable and pushes each other and it's great."
 
Rounding out the team defensively who had significant minutes last season are: junior Maggie Cameron (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central HS), with two assists in 2022, and sophomores Addison Weiner (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown HS East), Hannah Wellinger (St. James, NY/Smithtown HS East), Samantha Wohlmut (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches HS) and Allie Ziermak (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale HS) who all gained considerable collegiate experience last season, with Weiner adding two goals for the Hawks. Junior Hannah Pugliese (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa HS) also returns after a 2022 season ending injury, looks to solidify the defense.
"I think our overall connection has been so strong like spending time together. We are forced to kind of like each other and it makes our bonds on the field very obvious I think," Franklin said.
 
With four graduate students playing their final season, coach Mike Eckberg looks to his 2023 recruiting class to begin to fill those future needs. Topping the list is Marist transfer and former All-NYSPHSAA select, sophomore forward Laney Schmitz (Bohemia, NY/Connetquot HS). Also on attack is first year Ashley O'Hara (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa HS), who helped lead the Plainsmen to two Section II, Class AA finals and an appearance in the 2021 NYSPHAA Class AA final. Looking to see quality playing time at midfield will be Jillian John (Greenlawn, NY/Elwood-John H. Glenn HS) and All-Suffolk County Erin Savarese (Holbrook, NY/Sachem HS North). Forward Grace Norelius (Holbrook, NY/Sachem HS North) will sit out the season due to injury. Last, but not least, All-Section Nine pick Madelyn Jachimiak (Wallkill, NY/Wallkill HS) will boost the talent in the goalkeeping room alongside incumbent Franklin.
 
"I think the culture of this particular team is one that we haven't had in the past," Eisert said. "Every practice is 110 percent from every player through the warmup to the drills to the scrimmages even the games we play, everybody is giving 110 percent and I think that level of competitiveness really drives this team and helps us win games like this."
 
The Hawks' 2023 campaign begins on South Turf Field Friday against Sage Colleges. They handled the Gators last season in their opener, 3-0 with two goals coming from Eisert.

SUNY New Paltz will face its toughest challenges on the road though, starting at No. 19 Montclair State University Sept. 6, Stockton University and Drew University Sept.  9-10, No. 20 University of Scranton Sept. 20, defending SUNYAC champion Geneseo Sept. 30 and NCAA DIII participant SUNY Cortland Oct. 18. Wins over the perennial SUNYAC foes, the Knights and Red Dragons, alluded the Hawks last season with Geneseo ending SUNY New Paltz's title hopes in the semifinal round a season ago. However, the loss only fueled what has the potential to become a record setting year for the program.

"I think getting a taste of what championship caliber soccer feels like definitely makes us hungrier," Eisert said. "You know, it even starts before preseason. Us setting our goals, we want to win this year. We want to go all the way this year and we want to make it to the NCAA tournament for the first time. So, I think yeah, we are definitely hungrier."
 
"I think now we know we can make it that far and it's now we don't want to stop there," Franklin added. "Now it's just keep going."
 
The SUNYAC Tournament begins Oct. 28 and SUNY New Paltz hopes to be in the thick of the run to the championship and the NCAA DIII tournament invitation that goes with it.

Hawks Women's Soccer Season Preview Featuring Rachel Eisert & Maddie Franklin


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