NEW PALTZ, NY – The State University of New York New Paltz field hockey team is set to make its postseason debut in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Field Hockey Championship Tournament, beginning with the quarterfinal round Monday, Nov. 2.
The Hawks turned in another competitive campaign under decorated head coach Shanna Szablinski, compiling a 7-11 overall record with a 3-4 mark in conference play. SUNY New Paltz navigated a challenging schedule throughout the fall, facing eight nationally ranked opponents, including former No. 1 Christopher Newport and three additional programs ranked inside the top 10.
Among the season's highlights was a 2-1 victory over No. 23 Ithaca College on Sept. 19 at North Turf. The Hawks also secured their first NJAC victory with a commanding 5-0 road win over Ramapo, marking an early milestone in the program's new conference era.
Junior standout Ashley McGough has spearheaded the offensive attack for the Blue and Orange, leading the team with 10 goals and 23 points while adding three assists. First-year defender Caydence Parker has made an immediate impact, contributing nine goals and three assists while converting all three of her penalty stroke attempts.
Senior captain Maya O'Keefe has been instrumental in the Hawks' offensive production, directing the attack and serving as a primary inserter on penalty corners. O'Keefe leads the team with six assists while adding two goals for 10 points. First-year forward Abigail Bozzanca has also emerged as an offensive threat, netting six goals in her debut collegiate campaign.
Defensively, sophomore goalkeeper Grace Grant has anchored SUNY New Paltz in the cage, totaling 131 saves with a .784 save percentage. First-year goalkeeper Kate Comiskey has also contributed between the posts, appearing in nine contests and collecting 43 saves with an .811 save percentage.
The Hawks punched their ticket to the postseason in dramatic fashion Saturday, Oct. 31, entering their regular-season finale against Montclair State with the final NJAC Tournament berth on the line. Facing a winner-take-all scenario, SUNY New Paltz delivered a complete defensive performance, holding the Red Hawks without a single shot on goal en route to a 2-0 road victory.
Senior Lil Schaub broke the scoreless deadlock in the third quarter with her first collegiate goal, which ultimately stood as the game-winner, before McGough added an insurance tally to secure the victory and extend the Hawks' season.
Nationally ranked Rowan secured the tournament's top seed after claiming the previous five NJAC field hockey championships dating back to 2021. The nationally ranked TCNJ Lions earned the No. 2 seed and will host third-seeded Stockton in the semifinal round Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m.
SUNY New Paltz enters the tournament as the No. 5 seed and will travel to face fourth-seeded Kean University in the conference's inaugural field hockey quarterfinal matchup Monday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m.
The Cougars claimed a 4-1 victory over the Hawks during the regular-season meeting on Oct. 3 at North Turf. SUNY New Paltz will look to reverse that result with a berth in the NJAC semifinals on the line.
Tickets for the NJAC Tournament are available exclusively online. For additional information, visit njacsports.com.
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