New Paltz, NY — On the cusp of an historic 2021 campaign, the State University of New York at New Paltz knew all it accomplished during the regular season would have been for not if it didn't hoist a banner on its home turf Saturday.
The Hawks (16-2 overall) battled for 60 minutes against No. 15 nationally ranked SUNY Cortland and held one of the most dangerous offenses in the country to its first shutout of the season en route to securing their coveted sixth SUNYAC Championship trophy after defeating the second seeded Red Dragons, 1-0.
"Obviously it feels great, but it's just a testament of how our team stuck to the process throughout the entire season," said SUNY New Paltz coach
Shanna Szablinski. "When we had some bumps in the road or when we hit adversity, I think our challenge mindset really settled in throughout the entire season and it was just that constant reminder of what's important to us, and how to keep true to the process. That really did unfold throughout playoffs. At a time where it's the most challenging because Cortland is a great team and we knew it was not going to be easy, but we focused on how we got here and what we need to continue to do. It was about winning the day in the small moments… We were prepared and we were confident."
Gallery: (11-6-2021) Field Hockey SUNYAC Championship v. CORT
Cortland held the advantage early, garnering possession on its offensive end for the majority of the first quarter and earned its first chance on goal off a corner about three minutes into the period. Lily Fox had a good look on cage, but the Hawks'
Ryan Dowling made the stop to keep the game at zeros.
Although the Red Dragons maintained possession, SUNY New Paltz's defense remained firm and didn't allow anything dangerous in the circle for the next eight minutes.
Kyra D'Amico played well at the left back position, making tackles down the sideline to prevent numerous Cortland counter attacks. The Red Dragons broke through through with about four minutes left in the quarter, as Fox found herself open on the far side after a dangerous ball was played across, but
Jessica Ascencao stepped up to get her stick in front for the defensive save and the Hawks transitioned the other way for their first opportunities in their offensive 25.
Ascencao broke into the circle and swung a couple attempts at Cortland's Megan McGuinness and ultimately helped her team win their first corner of the game with less than three minutes to go in the first.
Julia Cummings played the ball in and the Red Dragons did well to defend the set play, but Ascencao improvised, took a touch and found an open
Hannah Ackerman who fired a shot that found the back of the net what turned out as the game-winning score.
"We found the back of the net by just working it around," Ackerman said. "It was unsuccessful of what we planned to do, but the ball was just wide open and we were hungry so we were just taking every shot we get and we found the back of the net and then we just went on from there."
Cortland jumped out aggressively at the start of the second quarter and almost immediately earned a corner, but the Hawks defense swarmed the Red Dragons as the ensuing ball was played in by Madison Rice with
Courtney Kruzikas making the tackle and forcing the ball the other way, not giving Cortland a chance on goal. SUNY New Paltz then kept possession on their offensive half for the last five minutes, as
Natasia Plunkett narrowly gave the Hawks a two-goal advantage twice, first on a pass from Ascencao across goal and a second on a scrum in front of net, but McGuinness came up big both times for her team.
SUNY New Paltz's forward line worked hard though on the press and the Red Dragons struggled to clear the ball from their zone, leading to another opportunity for Plunkett with a minute to go in the half, but McGuinness stayed stout and came up with the stop once again, leading to just a one goal advantage by the hosts at the half.
"As a whole our defense, we're just very hard working and we do not give up," Ackerman said. "From the forward line to the very end, we're all just working as hard as we possibly can to keep it out of there and it just shows how disciplined we are in that we just don't want to ever let up at any time."
The Red Dragons came out sharp in the second half and continued to put pressure on SUNY New Paltz's defense. They fired five shots with three penalty corners in the third quarter alone, but Dowling and the Hawks defense stepped up big to wall any opportunities on goal.
The Hawks showed their maturity in the fourth as neither team tallied anything on goal and SUNY New Paltz from its defensive line, down to its forwards, stayed steady and held the 1-0 lead to clinch the win.
"What we've seen is that we can score, but our defense progressed throughout the season, just disciplined, and you can tell it's led by seniors," Szablinski said. "The way they organize, the way they were patient and composed under pressure, the defense played excellent all across the board. From the press, all the way to our defensive end."
The championship victory is the first since 2018 when the now senior class were pivotal in helping earn the SUNYAC title as freshmen. Since then, the group of nine: Ascencao, Kruzikas, Dowling, D'Amico,
Morgan Gunter,
Mackenzie Mortimer,
Shannon Bernhardt,
Kayla Ahern and
Katie D'Amico — have felt the feeling of winning it all, and coming up short in 2019, then having the year taken from them as juniors in 2020. Heading into what is for some, their final chance at a conference title, they lifted the team to an impressive win.
"We have a large senior class who has been in this situation before and they've been on the winning side and they've been on the losing side," Szablinski said. "I think having that balance and understanding of how to play in the moment and not take things for granted, they did a really great job with that and they remained poised. That makes a huge difference, and still with that calm intensity of when they win the ball their momentum is going forward. It was good to see."
Ascencao led the Hawks with three shots, an assist and a defensive save in the win, while Ackerman followed with two shots and the game-winning score. Plunkett also added two shots in the game, while Dowling finished with six saves.
Morgan Gunter was named as the SUNYAC Elite 20 recipient. Ascencao, Plunkett, Ahern and Kruzikas were all named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament team, while Ackerman was named SUNYAC Tournament MVP.
"It's unbelievable and believable at the same time," Ackerman said. "Our team has worked so hard for this. We've set this goal from the very start, so it's just unreal to be here, but well deserved by every single person on our team."
Ackerman adds another SUNYAC title to her family, as sisters Dani '17 and Samantha '19 have helped the program to multiple SUNYAC Championship during their four years as Hawks. Ackerman has been around the program for most of her life, has watched every SUNYAC Championship game the team has appeared in, and on Saturday had her first opportunity to play in a conference championship game with both her sisters in attendance to witness a SUNYAC Tournament MVP performance.
"It's really amazing because I've been on the sideline of these kinds of games, and I've felt this energy and it's something I've always strived for," Ackerman said. "Now that I'm actually here, I just felt that energy again and I wanted it for myself too. I know [my sisters] are on the sideline watching and felt it again, so it feels really great."
"Hannah has been around the program almost as long as I have been around the program and I think seeing her as a young kid going into now she's a part of it — it's what she knows," Szablinski said.
Szablinski's 2021 team also matches the most wins in program history with Saturday's victory. The previous mark was set by Szablinki's 2012 and 2015 squads.
The Hawks now await their next opponent, as they earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
"Moving froward, we're excited," Szablinski said. "We're looking forward to hear who we're playing tomorrow night and we're just going to keep true to the process. We're looking forward to getting into the NCAA's."
"This team is very focused," Ackerman added. "Yeah, we're going to celebrate hard right now, but then as a soon as it's over we're just back to settling down, sitting down and see where we slipped up in this game, because yeah we won, but there's always things we can work on and we're so excited to keep moving forward."
Post-Game Interview with Hannah Ackerman
Game Highlights
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