New Paltz Sports Information Department
New Paltz, NY —The State University of New York at New Paltz field hockey team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday after knocking off visiting Wilson College in its first-round matchup, 3-0.
The Hawks had a slow start to the game, as they struggled connecting on their passes early, which allowed the Phoenix to control possession and keep the ball on SUNY New Paltz's defensive side. The defense held stout for the hosts' however, overcoming four shots within the circle and a penalty corner to hold onto the scoreless tie. Jessica Ascencao came up with two defensive saves within the first four minutes with Ryan Dowling making a big stop off Wilson's lone corner.
"Obviously, we're advancing and are very, very excited about that. I think moving into the next round you face better teams as you move up, it's just important that we focus on having a really strong warmup going into the game ready," said SUNY New Paltz coach Shanna Szablinski. "Not taking a while to get the wheels turning and I think that urgency from the start is going to be really critical going into the next game."
The Hawks finally started getting a rhythm in the middle of the field, which allowed them to transition into their offensive end to get their first scoring opportunity with less than four minutes remaining in the quarter. SUNY New Paltz earned three consecutive corners, unable to put the ball into the cage until their final opportunity when Natasia Plunkett turned and fired a shot in the air off a deflection from the initial shot by Ascencao for the score.
"It's really exciting as a program to advance in the NCAA Tournament," Plunkett said. "We won the [SUNYAC] championship, so we're all really excited and just ready to put our best foot forward and go as far as we possibly can."
The Hawks did a better job in the second quarter putting pressure on the Phoenix and didn't allow the visitors to cross into their defensive 25, continuing to force turnovers and maintain possession in the middle of the field. However, they couldn't equate the time of possession to trips inside their offensive circle. They finally tallied their first shot in the period with five minutes to go in the half, as Alexa Wentz laid a shot that was saved by back Breeann Sheaffer, resulting in a penalty corner.
SUNY New Paltz earned three more corners to end the quarter but couldn't capitalize and took just a 1-0 lead into half.
"The first quarter we just were a little off — miss-trapping the ball, hitting it into dead space or touching into dead space and once we made adjustments it was better, but it did seem like we were a little shook up from the get-go," Szablinski said. "Once we settled in we possessed a lot better, we made good choices and that's one thing going into the next round. You don't have a lot of time to wait to do that. You have to be your very best in those moments."
Second half was all Hawks, with Wilson tallying just one shot in the final 30 minutes, while SUNY New Paltz fired 22 of its 30 shots in the second half and earned 11 penalty corners.
Jamie Wagner quickly upped the advantage for the Hawks five minutes into the third quarter. The play started inside the Hawks 50, with Hannah Ackerman making a nice move around her defender to burn her man down the sideline before finding Shannon Bernhardt, who after a re-start, got end line and centered a pass to Wagner and the Cicero, NY native batted the bouncing ball out of the air for the highlight score.
Ascencao then put the finishing touches on the win with SUNY New Paltz's third goal of the game. Amanda Quenneville worked her way into the circle and earned her team a corner, which was played in by Julia Cummings to Ascenaco who found the back of the net for her fifth goal of the year.
SUNY New Paltz out-shot Wilson, 30-6, including 17-4 on net, while dominating in penalty corners, 18-1, but only capitalizing on two in the game.
"We were getting the ball through we just weren't finishing," Szblinski said. "I think it's about being prepared inside the circle. That means getting your stick into position to tip properly with your feet in the right direction. The ball was getting through, we just weren't capitalizing and getting good deflections. Something we will be working on in the short amount of time."
Ascencao led the way for her team, finishing with a game-high eight shots, five on goal with one score and an assist. The latter officially tied her for a single-season most 14 assists with former Hawks alumna Danielle Conklin '14, who finished the 2013 season a program-setting 14 assists.
"Jess is just one of the most competitive, disciplined, finesse players that we have ever had in this program. Her I.Q. is a whole other level," Szablinski said. "The things she does, she does it with intent and she's consistent and really is the catalyst for our team. I just think Jessie is just a player that makes people around her better, but you know when she's out there she is going to be fighting tooth and nail to the very end. She makes big plays happen and you need players like Jessie. She's awesome."
The Hawks secured their third-straight shutout — all coming in the postseason — and 10th shutout overall, while ending the season a perfect 9-0 at home and improving to 17-2 overall.
The victory not only advanced SUNY New Paltz to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for just the fourth time in program history, but also set a mark of most wins ever in SUNY New Paltz field hockey history.
"In the beginning of the season, I was like, 'Wow. Our team is really talented.' The one thing I thought was really important was that we had great leadership and they had experience of winning a conference title," Szablinski said. "I think throughout the time, they just really understood the process and dedication and will, and to see that unfold this year was really great. Having a strong senior class, strong leadership and experience really has helped us get to where we are."
"Being a part of the team that's won the most games in program history that's really exciting," Plunkett added. "We just want to keep winning as much as possible. I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. This is the greatest team I've ever been on, so I just want to keep playing our best."
With the win, the Hawks advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the winner of Tufts University and Johnson and Wales University, which play at 6 p.m. Tuesday night.
The second and third round games will be played on the campus of Middlebury University Saturday and Sunday with the hosting Panthers taking on the winner of the first-round matchup of Vassar College and Endicott College, which takes place at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Natasia Plunkett Post-Game Interview
