New Paltz, NY — The NCAA released its latest NCAA Division III Regional poll Monday with the State University of New York at New Paltz landing its first regional ranking in program history.
 
The Hawks (12-2 overall, 4-2 SUNYAC) were off on a magical 12-0 start, well surpassing the previous record for wins in program history (9), which they set last season. They suffered their first loss of the year Saturday in a tough one-goal game against Oswego and fell in another close contest on the road Wednesday to perennial power and fellow regional ranked counterpart, SUNY Cortland.
 
Through its undefeated stretch, SUNY New Paltz defeated Hartwick, 9-7 early in the year, pulled a comfortable14-5 win over Kean University before upsetting SUNY Brockport, 11-8 to earn its first ever victory over the Golden Eagles in program history.
 
Through their historic season, the Hawks are putting up gaudy numbers, as senior Kaitlyn Shaw has already set single season records for both points and goals with 59 goals and 80 points thus far, while sophomore Mia Baldinger and senior Morgan Woolley set single season records for both assists and caused turnovers, respectively. Sophomores Morgan and Lexi Atwater are also having breakout seasons, as the duo have totaled 61 and 59 points, respectively.
 
Through Monday, Baldinger ranked fourth in the country in assists with 51, trailing just Roger Williams' Julia Kelley, Christopher Newport's Kelsey Winters and Illinois Wesleyan's Britney Madlando, while landing fifth in the country in assists per game (3.92). Woolley sat eighth in the country in caused turnovers, averaging 3.62 per game, while landing seventh in total caused turnovers, and Shaw ranked 13th in the country in points.
 
As a team defensively, SUNY New Paltz is allowing just six goals against per game, limiting opponents to just 15 shots a contest, while offensively, the Hawks average about 15 goals per game, and maybe more impressively, average nearly 12 assists a game with 140 assists on the season. In contrast, the team totaled 96 assists all of last season and as a team, sits second in the country in assists per game and second in total assists, only behind Roger Williams.
 
The NCAA Division III Rankings listed top-seven teams in Region I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII in alphabetical order. SUNY New Paltz was joined by SUNY Cortland, Ithaca, SUNY Geneseo, TCNJ, Union and William Smith.
 
To view the full NCAA Division III regional rankings, click here.


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