Geneseo, NY — A magical run officially came to an end Wednesday in the SUNYAC semifinal.
 
The State University of New York at New Paltz surprised the entire country with an historic 2024 campaign, winning a record setting 14 games through a 12-game winning streak, clinching its first ever regional ranking, while earning the highest seeding ever in program history before winning its first ever postseason game. The reward was a matchup against the reigning SUNYAC Champions in No. 2 seeded Geneseo.
 
The young Hawks couldn't overcome the swarming nature of the seasoned Knights team, as they struggled to transition the ball down the field and couldn't get past Geneseo goalie Emily DeJohn early and as a result, suffered just their fourth loss of the season, 19-3.
 
"I told them that they changed everything for a lot of people — for alumni, for the program, for recruiting, for me personally. They just completely set a new expectation of what New Paltz Women's Lacrosse is," said SUNY New Paltz coach Randy Vite.  "I don't know how I will ever replicate what this group had. They were so bought in. They were so hard working. They showed up every day to work hard. They expected to win. I think it was the first time New Paltz Lacrosse showed up to win games and expected to win games. I am really sad that my time with this specific group has come to an end because it's been such a special year that I have never really personally experienced in my life."
 
 
On a hot, sunny afternoon at College Stadium, the Hawks were forced to get up and back early, as they struggled to clear the ball through a tough Geneseo midfield. Back-to-back failed clears allowed the Knights to answer with their second goal of the afternoon, finding the open man around the crease who easily slotted a shot near pipe to push the lead to 2-0. Vite called an early timeout to give her team a breath after a defensive slide by Sam Wohlmut created the turnover and Gabriella Tommaso came out of cage to scoop up the ground ball from her crease and transitioning the ball out the other way.
 
SUNY New Paltz responded with about six minutes to go in the first quarter, as Allison Beattie earned a free position on the far hash and smartly found the extra pass in a cutting Morgan Atwater who caught and finished through traffic to trim the difference to one.  
The Hawks stood in defensively and earned a stop next time down, but another failed clear allowed the Knights to push and run a quick offensive set and feed inside for the goal. The hosts continued to feed inside as Maddie Brown scored or assisted on the next three of four Geneseo goals resulting in a 6-1 lead after the first quarter of play.
 
"They very clearly prepped for the game and was clearly ready for us and at the end of the day, they were the better team and credit to where credit is due to a talented Geneseo team who is always a semifinal team. I think we made a lot of steps in the right direction to be that kind of team," Vite said.
 
Kaitlyn Shaw earned a free position to start the second quarter and narrowly added another to the Hawks' total, but Knights goalie DeJohn made a nice stop in net to cause another SUNY New Paltz turnover, Geneseo capitalized on the other end for a two-goal swing, extending the advantage to 7-1.
 
Mia Baldinger had an opportunity to score on a free position after drawing a shooting space call with around seven minutes left in the quarter, but again DeJohn came up with a clutch save to keep the Hawks offense at bay. SUNY New Paltz had a man-up opportunity following a yellow card on the Knights in the eight, but Geneseo held the Hawks without a shot in the set after Ava Padilla was given a yellow following a dangerous propel. The Knights milked its card to create a man-up opportunity of its own and answered with a goal to push the score to 10-1.
 
SUNY New Paltz stopped the 8-0 Geneseo run with 1:27 left in the half, as Shaw snatched a high feed inside by Baldinger, bringing down the ball and firing in front of cage for her 70th of the year.
 
Atwater nearly added on before the final first half whistle, pushing the ball in transition, weaving past two defenders before rocketing a shot of the top pipe, resulting in a 11-2 score at the break.
 
Geneseo rolled in the second half, scoring four-straight before Morgan Atwater scored her second of the afternoon with less than 30 seconds left in the third quarter on a driving score to cut the deficit to 15-3.
 
"This team is never going to quit," Vite said. "They are going to try hard from the first whistle to the last and I'm super proud of them in their hard work and commitment this entire season and this game is no different."
 
Geneseo controlled the game, out-shooting the Hawks, 35-17, while collecting more ground balls, 16-10 and winning the turnover battle, 11-19 with SUNY New Paltz successful on just 7-for-13 clears with the Knights successful on 16-for-18.
 
Atwater led the way with two goals, a ground ball and four draw controls. Shaw followed with a goal, two ground balls and five draw controls, while Francesca Corozzo led the team defensively with four caused turnovers. Tommaso, meanwhile, finished with nine saves.
 
SUNY New Paltz ends its season at 14-4 overall and 7-4 in the SUNYAC — both program records.


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