The State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz field hockey team swept SUNY Brockport on the road with a 3-0 victory. The Hawks have been playing tremendously, as they strengthened their overall record to 7-3 and they are 2-0 in State University of New Paltz Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play.
The game started with both teams playing strong defense, which led to a scoreless first quarter for both the Hawks and Golden Eagles. Fourth-year forward Carly Croteau was the first to score at 25:52, finding the net in the second quarter and assisted by second-year midfielder/forward Shannon Bernhardt.
“The team’s performance has been incredible. Every day we seem to grow as individuals and as a team,” Croteau said. “By setting goals at daily training sessions, all the way to following our goals we set as a team. We always have insight of not becoming complacent. We still have so much more to go and accomplish, and I know for a fact that this group is hungry.”
Heading into the third quarter, the Hawks led the Golden Eagles 1-0 when Bernhardt took a shot and scored at 41:02, extending their lead 2-0 with almost a full quarter of play left.
“Looking ahead, there’s no doubt that our team will be successful in our post season play,” Bernhardt said. “We have a lot of positive momentum moving forward and we anticipate to only build upon it. We’ve had some ups and downs throughout the season, but each one has served to prepare us for where we are right now and where we’re headed. I feel so lucky to be on a team with so much potential and I can’t wait to see where it’ll take us in our post season.”
First-year midfielder Jamie Wagner was able to seal the deal on the Hawks’ victory with the third and final goal of the game late in the fourth quarter at 53:05, her fifth goal for the season. When asked how it felt to score in Saturday’s game, Wagner explained that “New Paltz field hockey is all about celebrating the little things, so when something big like a goal happens, everyone goes nuts and it is honestly the best feeling in the world.”
The Hawks put up an impressive 24 shots, 20 on goal, while shutting the Golden Eagles down to merely six shots, five being on goal.
“I love the feeling of putting everything on the line for a game,” Wagner said. “In playoffs, every game could be our last, so we can’t hold anything back, or as we say ‘we die on empty.’”
Last season, the field hockey team had an impressive season where they ended with a record of 12-8, and they took home the title of SUNYAC Champions.
The Hawks are looking to take home their sixth SUNYAC title for the program this season, and defend their crown.