New Paltz, NY — In its last regular season game on South Turf Field, the State University of New York at New Paltz dominated the visiting SUNY Canton Kangaroos on Saturday. The 5-0 victory secured a fourth seed placement for the Hawks (10-3-4), their highest postseason seeding since 2022.  

With five goals from five different scorers, the Hawks outplayed the Roos (3-15-1) in the offensive third. SUNY New Paltz led the way in shots (13) with seven on goal, compared to SUNY Canton's six shots with one on frame. 

Following a yellow card on the Roos in the 11th minute, the Hawks got on the board first. SUNY New Paltz's frontline was up in front of the net, where Alex Wyant passed a ball to Ryan Zindler, where the sophomore finished the opportunity on frame. The early goal lifted the hosts to a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. 

Not long after the first, the Hawks netted their second. Following four unsuccessful corner opportunities, Wyant took it upon himself to create a scoring opportunity. The senior captain lost his defender on top of the sixteen-yard box and struck the ball into the back right corner of the net. The 25th-minute score added an insurance goal for the Hawks heading into the remainder of the first. 

The rest of the half produced little offensive opportunity, with the Hawks only shooting two more shots and SUNY Canton not putting up an attempt before halftime. The teams went into the break with SUNY New Paltz up 2-0. 

A lead it would extend in the second half. 
Only 15 minutes into the second, the Hawks were handed a prime opportunity when junior David Lamour was fouled inside the box, leading to a penalty shot. Lamour lined up and sent a low ball past the Roos goalkeeper for the Hawks' third of the match. 

A minute later, SUNY Canton took their first and final attempt on net, but the try was saved by SUNY New Paltz goalkeeper Matt Katz. The Roos were only able to produce more shot for the half, while the Hawks created two more on-frame opportunities — both leading to goals for SUNY New Paltz. 

In the 84th minute, Bryan Lizama received a through ball from Colin Brant and found the back of the net, elevating the Hawks' lead to 4-0. And five minutes later, Brant scored one himself. 

After beating his defender one-on-one, Brant placed a shot to the far post for his fifth goal of the year and SUNY New Paltz's fifth goal of the match in the 89th minute. Despite being handed a yellow card following the goal, Brant and his team took home a 5-0 victory as time expired. 
 

Seniors Brant and Wyant led on the stat sheet with a goal and an assist apiece. Zindler followed with a goal and two shots on frame, joined by Lizama and Lamour, who each netted one goal. Nico Peralta was the sole 90-minute player on the day, defending alongside goalkeepers Katz and Joe Washington, with Katz corralling the Hawks' only save of the match. 

The Hawks will host the SUNYAC quarterfinal match against No. 5-seeded Oneonta Red Dragons, who SUNY New Paltz defeated 1-0 in the regular season. Game time is set for noon on Nov. 1. 
 

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