New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz field hockey and women's soccer programs are both a win away from hoisting a SUNYAC Championship trophy.
 
The two teams earned SUNYAC Semifinal victories at home Wednesday with the Hawks earning a 2-1 win over Oneonta in the field hockey semis, while women's soccer routed Fredonia in their matchup on South Turf earlier in the day.
 
For the first time in program history, SUNY New Paltz (14-2-2, 8-0-1) was seeded No. 1 heading into the postseason in women's soccer. Although the Hawks tied Cortland (11-3-4, 8-0-1) in the regular season, they took the top spot by scoring eight goals more than the Red Dragons throughout the year.  
 
While SUNY New paltz routed the Fredonia Blue Devils 4-0 in the semifinals, the Red Dragons defeated No. 6 seeded Oneonta in their respective semifinal match to secure its place in the championship. After trailing 1-0 early in the match, Cortland netted two consecutive goals to regain the lead 2-1.    
In the Hawks and Red Dragons' regular season meeting, SUNY New Paltz took control of the game early on and outshot the Red Dragons 18-6 overall. Midfielders Tyla Vuotto and Katie Cosenza and forward Liz Allen were the only Cortland players to get shots off on incumbent Hawks keeper Maddie Franklin, but none were successful in scoring on the senior.  
 
Despite the results against the Hawks, Cortland's offense has produced well this year. Overall, the Red Dragons have netted 44 goals this year with 2.44 goals per game. Cortland has shot 18.3 shots per game, and 176 out of their 330 total goals were on frame. However, SUNY New Paltz's offense has scored 56 goals with 3.11 per game and shot 200 out of 363 shots on frame.  
 
Vuotto, Consenza, and Allen are all players to watch on the Red Dragons frontline, as the trio land in the top five scorers for Cortland, with 11, six, and four goals, respectively. Forward Piper Klammer also is a notable offensive threat, as the sophomore has netted nine goals this season with three game-winners. Consenza leads the Red Dragons in assists, and the senior's 13 assists on the season ranks her 12th in the nation in the category.  
 
In net, senior goalkeeper Kristen Spendal has started for Cortland in all 18 games, with 77 saves on 182 shots faced this season. Spendal is accompanied by a strong backline, as the defensive unit has limited opponents to 0.72 goals per game and has let in only 13 goals against on the year. However, the Hawks' backline has been stronger statistically, as the defense has only let in seven goals this season and has kept opponents to .39 goals per game.  
 
Kickoff between the Hawks and Red Dragons is set for noon.  
 

The SUNYAC Field Hockey Championship will pit No. 2 seeded SUNY New Paltz will go on the road to face No. 1 Cortland in the Field Hockey Championship Saturday at 1 p.m. The game is a re-match from last year's SUNYAC Final where the Hawks lost to the Red Dragons, 2-1 in Cortland.
 
SUNY New Paltz fell in its regular season matchup, 5-1 to ultimately determine hosting duties in the postseason tournament. Cortland heads into the matchup ranked No. 8 nationally, winning six straight and head into the matchup at 16-1 overall. The two-time reigning champions are competing in their seventh straight conference final with their last championship loss coming against the Hawks in the 2021, the first season for seniors Hannah Ackerman, Morgan Woolley, Amanda Quenneville, Emily Brown and Emily McGovern.
SUNY New Paltz needs to slow down a strong Red Dragons attack, littered with experienced fourth- and fifth-year seniors. Leading the way is forward Keirra Ettere who's totaled 42 points on 18 goals and six assists, followed by forwards Hannah Corrigan (38 points), Gianna Trunfio (27 points) and Jamie Snyder (26 points) who are all double-digit scorers. All four registered a point against the Hawks in the regular season matchup.
 
On the season, Cortland is averaging nearly five goals per game, while conceding less than one against, allowing nine goals all season with 10 shutouts.
 
SUNY New Paltz's offense is led by junior Rachel Tama who is in the middle of a breakout year, tallying 63 points on 26 goals and 11 assists as she's just seven points shy of tying the program's single season points record. She's followed by fellow junior forward Miranda Britton (19 goals, 9 assists) who scored the game-winner in the 2-1 semifinal victory over Oneonta Wednesday. Ackerman is the team's true cog, however, as the fifth-year senior and reigning All-America pick has tallied five goals and 14 assists this season, sitting one shy of breaking the single season program record.
 
The Hawks are set to face the Red Dragons at SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex at 1 p.m.
 
 
 

 
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