Hawks Land Five on All-SUNYAC Field Hockey Team

NEW PALTZ, NY — After setting a program record for wins in a season, and falling one victory shy of winning the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship, the SUNY New Paltz field hockey team garnered five all-league selections this afternoon.

Junior midfielder Kate Schoonmaker (High Falls, NY) was named First Team All-SUNYAC. Schoonmaker has been the league’s Player of the Week on two occasions this fall and is tied for the team-lead in scoring with 25 points (11 goals, 3 assists). Schoonmaker is the first Hawk in the five-year history of the program to earn First Team all-conference honors.

Four players were named Second Team All-SUNYAC including freshman Kaitlin Ruggiero (Carmel, NY) who was also tabbed the league’s Rookie of the Year. Ruggiero has started 16 games on defense for the Hawks and has played a prominent role in five shutout wins. Ruggiero has also keyed a defensive unit that surrendered just two goals in five league games.

Sophomore goalie Nicole Kovac (Manlius, NY) was also a Second Team selection. Kovac, who played both midfield and defense as freshman in 2003, had five shutouts and a 1.93 goals-against average. In league play, Kovac had an even more impressive 0.40 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.

Junior forward Patricia Erikson (Massapequa, NY) earned a spot on the Second Team as well. Erikson, who has 25 points on 12 goals and one assist, shares the team-lead in scoring with Schoonmaker. She also has a team-best four game-winning goals.

Junior midfielder Lisa Wong (Colts Neck, NJ) is a Second Team all-conference selection for the second time in her career. She is the team’s third leading scorer with 12 points (4 goals, 4 assists).