New Paltz Sports Information Department
New Paltz, NY — The road for a title continues for the Hawks.
The State University of New York New Paltz outmatched the Fredonia Blue Devils in a 4-0 runaway semifinal victory. Following the win, SUNY New Paltz punched their ticket to the SUNYAC championship.
"We did not let up today and we were really patient," said senior Rachel Eisert. "We came in with a new sense of confidence coming into this game after a great eight days of practice and hard training against each other and we are going to continue to push."
"This game is a testament to where we have been the entire season," added senior Gaby Treble.
With the victory, SUNY New Paltz (14-2-2, 8-0-1) ties the 2011 record for the most wins in a single season, with 2011 also being the last year the team made it to the SUNYAC championship. But this time, the final round is hosted at SUNY New Paltz.
"At home, we are excited to be in front of our family, friends, and fellow Hawks," said Treble. "We are excited, we're hungry."
Early on in the match, SUNY New Paltz ran circles around Fredonia with skilled ball movement, but the Blue Devils physicality kept the Hawks from putting the ball in the back of the net. Eight minutes in, Eisert set up SUNY New Paltz's first chance and fed Treble in the box. However, Fredonia's backline was ready for the service and smothered the played ball before Treble could land a touch. The pass was cleared out of the eighteen-yard box, which ended the set.
In the same minute, Eisert intercepted a poorly passed ball by the Blue Devils in the midfield and tore away on a fast break. One-on-one with Fredonia's keeper Abby Szymkowiak, Eisert aimed a low shot left, but Szymkowiak guessed right and fully extended to save the ball by inches.
Eisert found open space again two minutes later after receiving a service from Erin Savarese, and the senior dribbled the pass into the left corner of the net and found Treble on the back side. Treble fired a shot toward net, but the try dinged off the crossbar and ricocheted out of the eighteen.
But five minutes later, Eisert and Treble connected again.
After an offsides call against the Hawks, the Blue Devils rallied downfield and tried to conjure a set piece, but Savarese cleared the ball out of the box before a shot attempt was taken. Alexis Deleo steered SUNY New Paltz upfield and soared a through ball to the Hawks' frontline. Brooke Kelleher brought down the loose ball, and the junior found Eisert, who threaded a ball to Treble at the right side of the box. Treble one-touched a powerful shot with her right foot directly into the top left corner of the cage. The Hawks earned a 1-0 lead only 17 minutes into the match — with a lot of game left to play.
In the 27th minute, Kelleher took control of the ball again and attempted a cross from the left corner. The pass bounced off a Fredonia defender and out, but the Hawks had the chance at a corner. Emma Voege lined up and launched a pass toward the backside, but the ball bounced out at the top of the box. Savarese ran up and met the loose ball before firing a shot toward cage, but Szymkowiak brought in the attempt. However, four minutes later, the Hawks got the opportunity they needed.
After Eisert was tripped in the box, SUNY New Paltz earned a penalty opportunity in the 31st minute. Eisert took the kick, and casually tapped the ball into the lower left side of the net. Up 2-0, the Hawks had an insurance goal heading into the final few minutes of the half.
But they weren't done yet.
With a little over five minutes left in the first, Alyssa Deutsch served Kennedy Jones at the top of the box. Conjuring another one-on-one chance for SUNY New Paltz, Jones attacked the net, but Szymkowiak came up with another tough save. Deutsch took her chance only minutes later, as Mia Baldinger found the freshman in the same position Jones was in, and Deutsch buried a shot into the right corner of cage for the Hawks' third of the match.
"We were sticking to what we know and what were good at and what we know how to do best which is to go at teams and defenses," said Eisert. "Not adjusting to them and having them adjust to us in the final third worked in our favor today."
With no time for the Blue Devils to respond, halftime was called with SUNY New Paltz up 3-0.
From the second half kickoff, the first Hawks attempt was catalyzed by Eisert, as the senior dribbled up the right sideline toward cage in the 47th minute. Eisert weaved through multiple Blue Devils defenders before striking a ball to the back post, but the attempt went just wide.
Three minutes later, SUNY New Paltz had another chance, as Savarese dodged multiple Fredonia players and dribbled toward space at the top right corner of the eighteen. Savarese crossed the ball toward the penalty spot, where Mia Baldinger was waiting to try a shot. Unfortunately, the attempt by Baldinger flew over the crossbar which ended the set.
Fredonia had their first set piece off a corner in the 53rd minute, where forward Katie Sellers went for a header and missed, but was relieved as a fellow Blue Devils forward followed up the right side of the box and played the ball back in. However, the cross was cleared by the Hawks' backline before a shot attempt was made.
In the 62nd minute, the ball was back in SUNY New Paltz's possession, as Jones and Deutsch worked together in the midfield. Deutsch serviced Jones upfield for a fast break, and Kennedy was once again one-on-one with Szymkowiak. Jones fired a shot, but the attempt just skimmed the outside of the left goalpost.
Trying again in the 66th minute, Jones stripped a Fredonia defender of the ball and toed a shot to the right corner, but Szymkowiak dove and tipped the ball out of bounds, again at full extension
However, Jones would soon find the back of the net.
In the 74th minute, the ball bounced around in the Blue Devils eighteen, and came out by the penalty spot where Jones was waiting. After dodging through a Fredonia defender, Jones struck the ball past Szymkowiak and into the left side of the net. Her fourth goal as a Hawk, Jones elevated SUNY New Paltz's lead to 4-0 which marked the final goal of the game, as neither team could put in a goal in the remaining 16 minutes and the buzzer sounded with the Hawks on top.
All four of SUNY New Paltz's goals were scored by a different player, emphasizing the Hawks' depth on the roster. Treble, Eisert, Deutsch, and Jones netted a goal apiece, while Baldinger and Eisert dished out an assist each. Maddie Franklin recorded the full 90 minutes, but had a quiet day in net, as Fredonia had zero shots on frame.
"We have tried to stay focused on our process throughout the entire year [and] we try to stay true to ourselves and out process heading into every game," said Treble. "We try not to change what we do in accordance with another team."
SUNY New Paltz heads to the SUNYAC finals where it will face the Cortland Red Dragons. In the regular season, the Hawks tied the Red Dragons at home, 1-1. Hosting Cortland again, the SUNYAC champion will be crowned at noon on Saturday at South Turf Field.
"We are going to stay true to ourselves and do what we know how to do best," said Treble. "Go Hawks."
