After a 2020 season that gave the Hawks a small taste of competition, the State University of New York at New Paltz's women's lacrosse team is determined to leave its mark on the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) this spring.
 
The SUNYAC will be operating under a divisional format for the 2021 women's lacrosse season. Each division will feature five member schools, and teams will primarily compete against their fellow division member in the regular season. SUNY New Paltz will compete in the East Division along with SUNY Cortland, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY Potsdam.
 
The Hawks only had the opportunity to participate in five out-of-conference games in the shortened 2020 season. The team went 2-3 in that span and came away with victories against St. Joseph's-Long Island and Hartwick College. Top 2020 point-scorers, Amy Hofer and Tara Bovich headline the squad's class of returning players, as the program aims to build off its first playoff run in 2019. 
SUNY New Paltz begins its 2021 campaign in Cortland to take on the Red Dragons with the Hawks seeking their first win in program history against SUNY Cortland. In addition to the March 24 matchup, the schools will meet again to conclude the regular season on the North Turf Field on April 24.
 
SUNY New Paltz opens its 2021 home slate on March 27 against the Cardinals in just the second-ever meeting between the two programs with the home-and-home re-match taking place April 14. Plattsburgh's young team was off to a hot, 4-0 start in 2020 before the season was terminated.
 
The Hawks continue their home-stand March 31 when Catskill Cup rival, Oneonta visits the North Turf Field. SUNY New Paltz will aim to claim its first victory over the Red Dragons and hope to clinch another against the program when they meet up once more in Oneonta April 10.
 
The Bears host the Hawks for a matinee April 3 at noon. The matchup between the two teams has consistently been a premier one in the SUNYAC with the Hawks grinding out a tough, 12-9 victory in their last meeting, which came during the 2019 season. SUNY Potsdam returns a young squad that features consistent scorers, Anita Reitano and Hannah Stevenson. The Bears will visit New Paltz on April 17 for a game on the North Turf scheduled at 1 p.m.
 
The SUNYAC Tournament will take place April 29 and May 2. The semifinal, championship format will feature the top two teams from each division competing against one another.
 
To view the full 2021 women's lacrosse schedule, click here.
 
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