ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The Oneonta field hockey team is hosting the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Field Hockey Tournament this Friday and Saturday, November 6-7, at All College Field. General admission tickets (CASH ONLY) are $5, and tickets for children ages 5-17 are $3. Children ages four and under, and students from SUNYAC schools with a valid ID will be admitted free of charge.

Oneonta secured the two seed and were the highest seeded New York team, granting them hosting rights to the tournament. The Red Dragons went 9-7 overall this season with a 3-1 record in the SUNYAC. The other teams in the tournament are No. 7 nationally ranked and top-seeded Salisbury, No. 16 ranked and three-seeded Cortland, and Oswego, the fourth seed. 

The first game on Friday will be between Salisbury and Oswego at 12 pm, followed by a Red Dragon battle between Oneonta and Cortland at 3 pm. The winners of each contest will advance and compete in the conference championship on Saturday at 1 pm. 

The last match between Oneonta and Cortland became an instant classic with Oneonta defeating Cortland, 2-1, in overtime at All College Field. Cortland held the lead first in the regular season contest before senior Sarah Stadelmann (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse Minoa) tied the game in the second period. The game went into overtime where junior Nora Trimarchi (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) scored the game-winning goal on a penalty stroke.

Oneonta's offense is powered by senior Alexandra Howell (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East). Howell leads the Red Dragons and SUNYAC with 48 points and 20 goals, including five game-winners. She is sixth in the NCAA in goals per game (1.25) and tied for sixth in points per game (3.00). Alongside her are freshman Gaby Ackley (Windsor, NY/Windsor Central) and junior Miranda Colacchio (Lagrange, N.Y./Arlington). Ackley has recorded five goals and five assists for 15 points in her freshman campaign, while Colacchio has totaled five goals and three assists for 13 points.

Sophomore Isabella Cunha (Carle Place, NY/Carle Place) is tied for second on the team with five assists and has scored twice for nine points. Stadelmann has found the back of the cage three times and tallied an assist for seven points this season.

Oneonta's defense primarily consists of graduate student Gabby Alfinito (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland), senior Abigail Draper (Remsen, NY/Holland Patent), Stadelmann, and Trimarchi. Alfinito and Trimarchi each have two defensive saves, along with freshman Maggie Kennedy (Fishkill, NY/John Jay).

In the cage for Oneonta is freshman Eva Klessel (Bronxville, NY/Bronxville). Klessel has started all 16 games this season for Oneonta, totaling 94 saves for a .783 save percentage. The Oneonta freshman has recorded two shutouts, while allowing 26 goals this season for a 1.66 goals against average.

On the other side of the field, Cortland has 11 players who have scored at least two goals, with Tori Peterson and Madison Oliver leading the way. Peterson has the team-high nine goals with four assists for 22 points, the fourth most in the SUNYAC. Oliver has totaled eight goals for 16 points.

Sadie Hoffmann and Lillian Morse have both recorded 14 points. Hoffmann has scored five goals and four assists, while Morse has three goals with eight assists. Gabriella Gemelli finished the regular season with two goals and six assists for 10 points. 

Sophia Cannistraci has started all 16 games in the cage for Cortland. Cannistraci has accumulated 68 saves for a .791 save percentage. She has totaled seven shutouts this season while allowing 18 goals for a 1.14 goals against average.

Oneonta is competing to make their first finals appearance since 2016 and their first SUNYAC title. Cortland is looking to win their 19th title in program history, and their first one since 2024.