PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Here are some game notes for Plattsburgh State's NCAA Division III women's soccer first round game versus the College of New Jersey at Amherst College in Amherst Mass.... THIS WEEK: Plattsburgh State takes on the College of New Jersey out of the New Jersey Athletic Conference in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Hitchcock Field on the campus of Amherst College. Ticket prices range from $2-6 and free for children under 2.

TEAM RECORDS: How the Cardinals have fared in 2009…
Overall: 10-5-3 (.639)
Conference: 3-4-2 (.444)/7th Place in SUNYAC
Home: 6-1-1 (.813)
Away: 3-4-2 (.444)
Neutral: 1-0-0 (1.000)
Overtime: 1-0-3 (.625)
vs. Ranked Opponents: 3-1-1 (.700)

HEAD COACH KAREN WATERBURY: The Plattsburgh State ’87 graduate is in her 20th season on the Plattsburgh sideline, compiling a school record of 244-119-25 (.661). The winningest coach in school history, she has twice been named a coach of the year by two different affiliations:  the State University of New York Athletic Conference in 1998 and the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association in 1995.   

HOW THEY GOT HERE: While Plattsburgh earned an at-large entry to the tournament, TCNJ earned an automatic bid. The Lions defeated Richard Stockton on penalty kicks, 7-6, after remaining in a 0-0 deadlock after two overtimes during the NJAC Tournament Championship game.

TALE OF THE TAPE: A brief look at how the teams compare statistically (per game averages) in 2009:
           GF GA SM Shots Corners Saves ShO
Cards: 1.75 0.96 +14 16.94 4.78 4.22 .333
Lions:  2.95 0.32 +52 12.74 7.37 1.79 .632

CARDINALS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: This signals the program’s second appearance in the Big Dance…
Year Round Opponent Score
1995 First Williams T, 1-1 (4ot)

GOAL KICKS: Plattsburgh has 332 wins since 1980 and is facing TCNJ for the first time in program history…is 0-0-1 in one previous NCAA tournament appearance…Kaitlin Collica named Second Team All-SUNYAC, Emily Riley earned Third Team All-SUNYAC.

LEADERS: Goals--TCNJ Casey Caruso, 10 and PLAT Liz Radigan, 7; Assists--TCNJ Briann McDonough & Nikki Migliori, 7 and PLAT Helen Giroux, 4; Points--TCNJ Caruso, 23 and Giroux, 16; Goalies--TCNJ Jessica Clarke, 16-2-1, 0.32 GAA, 31 Saves, 1676 MP; PLAT Ricci Celia, 4-3-2, 0.99, 35, 820.