Syracuse, NY — The State University of New York Athletic Conference Field Hockey Tournament is officially set with the Hawks securing a spot in the four-team single elimination championship for the 14th straight season.
SUNY New Paltz head into the tournament 3-1 in the SUNYAC, while currently sitting at 12-4 overall with two more games left to go in the regular season. It will face Ramapo at home Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. on North Turf Field before concluding its regular season run on the road at Vassar Friday at 7 p.m.
The Hawks will look to put an end to their three-game losing skid in their two remaining non-conference matchups, falling to No. 5 Christopher Newport (4-2), Montclair State (1-0) and No. 8 SUNY Cortland (5-1) in the last two weeks. The latter matchup was the most pivotal, as the game decided the top two seeds for the second consecutive year.
The nationally ranked Red Dragons bested SUNY New Paltz for the fourth consecutive time Saturday, winning 5-1 in a dominating effort. The reigning SUNYAC Champions out-shot the Hawks, 24-5 and scored four unanswered goals to improve to 13-1 overall on the year and stay perfect in the SUNYAC for the second consecutive season to take the No. 1 seed, while SUNY New Paltz secured the No. 2 spot.
In turn, the Hawks will host No. 3 Oneonta on North Turf Field in the semifinal round Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. The winner will play the winner of No. 1 Cortland versus No. 4 Oswego Nov. 9 at the highest remaining seed's home field.
SUNY New Paltz defeated the Oneonta Red Dragons in comfortable 5-1 game Oct. 5 at All College Field. The Hawks out-shot Oneonta, 28-7 while drawing 15 corners to the Red Dragons' nine.
Rachel Tama was the catalyst in the victory, scoring three of the team's five goals in the victory.
To view the official SUNYAC Tournament bracket,
click here.
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