Junior forward Elisa Arcara (pictured above) shields off a defender in a game against St. John Fisher College on Sept. 12. The Knights finished their season with a loss to SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday Oct. 31 (Josie Kwan/assoc. photo editor).
The Geneseo field hockey team ended their season with a loss in the SUNYAC semi-final on Wednesday Oct. 31 after they wrapped up regular season play on Saturday Oct. 27. The Knights fell to SUNY New Paltz in the semi-finals on Wednesday Oct. 31 by a score of 3-2 and finished the year with a record of 4-2 in conference play and 9-7 overall.
To recap the Knights’ last home game of the season on Oct. 21, the team earned a 7-0 victory against Nazareth College. Senior midfielder Tess Necaise led the way by scoring two goals for the Knights. Freshman forward Grace Dempsey, sophomore midfielder Jordan Penkitis, senior forward Gabriella Clare, sophomore forward Hayley Fonfara and junior midfielder Ariana Walczyk all scored in the contest as well. Freshman goalkeeper Natalie Chojnacki made three saves to secure the victory.
Dempsey was happy with the turnout of the Nazareth game thanks to the camaraderie demonstrated by her teammates.
“When we play as a unit, we are able to execute and get our desired results,” Dempsey said.
This concept reigns true with six different goal scorers and eight different players registering at least one point in the game.
This past Saturday Oct. 27, the Knights traveled to Rochester to play the number 8 ranked University of Rochester Yellowjackets. The Knights fell to the Yellowjackets by a score of 1-0. While they were outshot 12-0, Chojnacki made three saves in the losing effort.
Clare recognized the importance of continuing to play a team game heading into the playoffs.
“We were unable to capitalize on our scoring opportunities,” Clare said. “Playing as a team and having successful passing patterns is what will make us successful against any team.”
The Knights entered the SUNYAC tournament as the number four seed. They travelled to face the no. 1 seed SUNY New Paltz at New Paltz on Wednesday Oct. 31. The last time these two teams met was on Oct. 13 and the Knights handed New Paltz their only conference loss of the season.
In their first matchup, The Knights shut out New Paltz at home by a score of 2-0 in their first matchup of the season. Clare and Fonfara led the Knights past the no.1 seed with a goal apiece.
“[New Paltz] is a good team and they are always a challenge,” Clare said.
Before the semi-final game, the team spoke on what they thought they would need to do to win. There seemed to be common ground on what they need to focus on heading into the playoffs.
“Take every scoring opportunity seriously and capitalize on every opportunity,” Clare said. Dempsey agreed, adding that the team is looking to improve their mental game as well.
“We are going to come back harder if a goal is scored on us and put in our all until the buzzer sounds at the end of the game,” Dempsey said.
The Knights unfortunately would fall short in this Halloween matchup and the Red Hawks moved on to the SUNYAC championship. In the 3-2 loss, junior defender Julia Kim scored both of Geneseo’s goals. New Paltz scored the deciding goal with just five minutes left on the clock. The women will look to bounce back next year and should be proud of a successful season despite the loss.