Rochester, NY — For the first time in more than 20 years, the Hawks are in the final 64.
 
The State University of New York New Paltz journey to a national championship starts Saturday with the Hawks pitted against the No. 18 nationally ranked Amherst Mammoths for their first-round matchup.
 
"We're all thrilled to be here," said SUNY New Paltz senior captain Maddie Franklin. "We worked so hard for this moment. It's been building up to this since August 16. I think we're super excited to play and face really good opponents, but we're also excited to be able to spend so much time together."
 
Amherst enters the tournament at 11-1-6 overall after a 5-1-4 finish in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). After earning the No. 4 seed in the NESCAC Tournament, the Mammoths went through perennial powers Middlebury, Tufts and Colby College to capture its third straight conference championship after beating the No. 6 seeded Mules Nov. 10.  
 
Amherst didn't lose many games in 2024 with its only loss coming against the rival Jumbos early in the regular season, 2-1. It avenged that defeat in the conference tournament, as the Mammoths pulled the upset over the No. 2 seed. The team has been especially good on the road, going 7-0-1 on opponent's home turf and are 1-0-1 on neutral sites.
 
Amherst has been stingy defensively in 2024, allowing just .50 goals per game after conceding just nine total goals. The team allows opponents just eight shots per game with a shots-on-goal percentage of .472. The Mammoths are led defensively by Second-Team All-NESCAC defender Ella Johnson (Seattle, WA) who has logged 1,509 minutes on the pitch, while adding a goal and two assists this past season. She was joined on second team by senior midfielder Sierra Rosado (Laurel Hollow, NY) who enjoyed her third-straight second-team all-conference pick. Rosado started 16 of 18 games for Amherst and finished sixth on the team in minutes played with 1,137. Also, a steadfast defender is senior outside back Charlotte Haung (Arlington, MA) who has logged a team-leading 1,546 minutes on the pitch while adding two assists.
 
Playing the majority of time in goal is senior Mika Fisher (Englewood, CO). She made all 18 starts for Amherst, playing 1,523 minutes. Fisher has made 59 saves on 102 shots faced with a goals-against-average of .53 and a save percentage of .868.
 
 
Offensively, the Mammoths are led by a pair of First-Team All-NESCAC forwards in seniors Kum Patience (Takoradi, Ghana) and Abby Schwartz (Alpharetta, GA). The two have combined for seven All-NESCAC nods through their careers, including a Player of the Year recognition for Patience in 2022. Patience leads the team with 18 points on five goals and eight assists on the year in 843 minutes of action acter starting 15 games she appeared in. Schwartz follows with 15 points (six goals, three assists) and has started 17 of 18 games with 1,049 minutes played with two game-winning goals.
 
Amherst has totaled 38 goals thus far, averaging 2.11 goals per game on 21.2 shots a contest with a shots-on-goal percentage of .472. It has scored two-plus goals 10 times on the year, while keeping 12 clean sheets for a plus-29 goal differential
 
"We watched how they played, and we did a lot of research on how they are as a team. I think we're beyond ready to face whatever they have to throw at us," Franklin said.  
Meanwhile, SUNY New Paltz is led by a talented forward line highlighted by two-time SUNYAC Player of the Year Rachel Eisert. Eisert, after breaking virtually every offensive single and career record as a junior last season, elevated her game in her final stint with the team, playing her best soccer. She re-set the program's single-season goal (15) and points record (34), while also adding four assists on the year and more importantly, was the catalyst in the Hawks' SUNYAC Championship run. She was named SUNYAC Tournament MVP.
 
Following Eisert offensively is two-time First-Team All-SUNYAC forward Gaby Treble who registered 14 goals — second most only behind Eisert in program history. Third-Team All-SUNYAC select Brooke Kelleher follows in points with five goals and seven assists, while fellow Third-Team All-SUNYAC pick Mia Baldinger added three goals and five assists for 11 points thus far.
 
SUNY New Paltz set a program record with nine All-SUNYAC selections, including six first team picks. Senior midfielder Alexis DeLeo, senior center back Emma Voege and junior outside back Hannah Wellinger were all honored on first team with junior midfielder Laney Schmitz landing on second team. Franklin earned her second-straight first-team selection and after a career season became the program's first ever SUNYAC Defensive of the Year.
 
Franklin was the anchor to a tough Hawks defense that allowed a mere .37 goals against throughout 19 games, conceding just seven total goals. Franklin made 18 starts, playing 1,509 minutes with a goals-against-average of .42 with 50 saves and a record of 14-2-2, helping SUNY New Paltz to 14 shutouts.
 
"The turf also skips a lot so I'm ready to come off my line and not stay back too far if for some reason the ball does get through our defense," Franklin said. "They also have some players who shoot from far out, so I'm ready for those too." The Hawks have made just one NCAA Tournament appearance in its history prior to 2024, which came in 2011. They made a run into the third round that season, winning its first two games against Lynchburg and Rowan in overtime.
 
For Amherst, it makes its 22nd appearance and fourth consecutive with an overall record of 36-16-5, making a finals appearance in 2001. Last season, the Mammoths earned a trip to the Sweet 16 after defeating Maine Maritime, 5-0 and RIT, 3-1 before their run ended in a 3-1 loss to Messiah.
 
On the other side of the bracket is hosting University of Rochester (11-3-3 overall, 4-2-1 UAA) and Emmanuel College (18-2-1, 12-2-1 GNAC). Both program's won their respective conference titles to earn an automatic bid into the tournament. The two team's matchup Saturday at 1 p.m. The winner will face either SUNY New Paltz or Amherst Sunday at 3 p.m.
 
"I think surprising everyone is exactly the right wording of what we're about to do," Franklin added. "I'm so confident. I trust any player on the team with my life and I think we're ready to shock some people with the skills that we have."
 
The Hawks' national tournament run starts Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Edwin Fauver Stadium.

 
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