NEW PALTZ, NY - On paper, the task before coach Jamie Seward (20th season) and assistant Darren Jackson (15th season) looks daunting: a relatively inexperienced team, a challenging non-conference schedule and a new, very competitive league to face. Yet these veteran coaches have been down this path before, and if history is any indication, the 2026-27 Hawks will be in the thick of the race for another conference title.
Lost from last season's SUNYAC champions and NCAA DIII second round team are five players, including the top three players of a year ago: three-time All American Brianna Fitzgerald, two-time All SUNYAC pick Hannah Vanderzee and All SUNYAC selection Karly Wittenbauer. While these three players were key in last season's 26-3 record, their departure now opens up playing opportunities for eight returnees and four newcomers to shine on the court this season.
Setting the pace for this season will be two returning guards, who finished fourth and fifth in scoring a year ago. Junior Sierra Carter (Watervliet, NY/Shaker HS) started 27 of 27 games, with 173 points, 96 rebounds, 57 assists and 43 steals. Sophomore Kayden Cornell (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central HS) saw action in 29 games, starting two, scoring 175 points, 75 rebounds,27 assists and 18 steals. Also returning after a year's absence is junior Caitlin Mullen (Rockaway, NY/Archbishop Molloy HS) who saw action in 20 games as a first-year player.
Rounding out the returnees is graduate student Allie Ziemak (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale HS) who stepped onto the court in a reserve role in last season's SUNYAC championship team.
Joining the Hawks guard lineup are two talented players. Junior transfer Meaghan Doherty (Yonkers, NY/Kennedy Catholic HS/The Stony Brook School/Roberts Wesleyan University), whose outstanding high school and college credentials can be truly impactful for the Hawks.
First-year Kaia Pomeranc (Weehawken Township, NJ/Weehawken HS) was a three-time NJIC Division all-star. The guard/forward spots are wide open with Fitzgerald and Vanderzee gone. Junior Kamryn Hoyt (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley HS) and sophomore Summer Perry (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth HS) each saw considerable court time a year ago; Hoyt played in 23 games, while Perry started 10 of 19 games, scoring 92 points, 106 rebounds, 33 assists, 24 steals and 19 blocks.
Senior transfer Layla Greene (Harriman, NY/Monroe-Woodbury HS/The Storm King School/Mercy University) played 32 games for the Mavericks and led Monroe-Woodbury to two straight Section IX Class AA championships. First-year Isabella Montalvo (Maspeth, NY/St. John's Preparatory School) played in NYC's tough CHSAA, earning All CHSAA honors as a junior and senior.
At forward, the Hawks return junior Grace Koehler (Highland, NY/Highland HS) and sophomore Macie Perry (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth HS). Koehler saw action in 19 games. Perry started 29 of 29 games as a first-year player and scored 103 points, with 125 rebounds, 23 assists, 39 steals and 19 blocks.
The Hawks open the 2026-27 away at No.2 NYU on November 13-14. Away games against Mt. St. Mary College and the Vassar Tournament follow before the home opener on November 24 against Amherst College.
New Paltz begins its initial season in the New Jersey Athletic Conference away at Ramapo College of New Jersey on December 2, followed by the NJAC home opener against Stockton University on December 5. The Hawks conclude both the NJAC and regular season at Kean University on February 17. The first round of the NJAC tournament is February 20, with the semifinals on February 24 and the championship game on February 27.
The winner of the NJAC tournament automatically qualifies for the NCAA DIII tournament, with first and second round games scheduled for March 5-6. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 games scheduled for March 12-13 and the national semifinals and finals the following weekend at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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