Box Score
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Emotions were high as the Plattsburgh State men’s soccer team suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Oneonta State Red Dragons in a battle for the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) crown Saturday afternoon at the Field House Soccer Complex.
 
A tight game was anticipated as these same two teams took their game to double overtime earlier this season with the Cardinals pulling out a dramatic 3-2 win. Today’s game proved to be no different as the game remained scoreless until the 79^th minute of play.
 
Despite some great opportunities for both squads, it was Oneonta’s Luke Halberg who took a pass from Dylan Williams on the counter attack and beat Plattsburgh goaltender Andy Heighington to give the Red Dragons a 1-0 lead.
 
The Cardinals continued to apply pressure in the offensive end, but Oneonta made it a two-goal lead when Jake Sutherland capitalized on another counter attack, sneaking past a Plattsburgh defender and getting his shot past Heighington at the 87:45 mark.
 
With the clock winding down, Plattsburgh’s Fabian Chaparro took a corner kick that made its way into the box. Jason Baker was able to get the ball to Steve Zacharczyk, whose header hit the crossbar and came down behind the goal line to make it a 2-1 game with 1:48 left in regulation.
 
Plattsburgh had no shortage of chances as the Cardinals outshot Oneonta, 21-13. The Cardinals drew 13 corner kicks while the Red Dragons took three on the afternoon.
 
Daniel DeBottis recorded six saves to earn the win for Oneonta. Andy Heighington made one stop in the loss for the Cardinals.
 
Matt Hamilton, Nick Pourakis and Tom Greene rounded out the Plattsburgh contingent on the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team. Oneonta was represented by Jake Sutherland, Colin Volpe and Mitchell Cain, while Dan Scott was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Tim Beauvais and Anthony Marinello of Cortland also joined Harrison Lane and Shanshe Khosroshvili of New Paltz on the All-Tournament Team.
 
Oneonta’s victory secures its second-straight SUNYAC crown and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. With the win, the Red Dragons’ record improves to 13-5-1 on the year.
 
Plattsburgh’s fate lies in the hands of the NCAA selection committee. The Cardinals drop to 17-3-1 overall and will need to receive an at-large bid to join the field of 64 teams in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show will take place Monday at 1 p.m. and can be viewed here.
 
If Plattsburgh’s season has come to a close, it would mark the end of the Cardinal careers for seniors Andy Heighington, Brandon Levine, Jarred Antonucci, Harvey Azra, Jason Baker, Mike Payne, Erik Hakim, Steve Zacharczyk, Nick Pourakis, Matt Martin and Zack Kruizenga. This year’s senior class has compiled a 56-16-13 record, made four-straight trips to the State University of New York Athletic Conference Finals, claimed the SUNYAC Regular Season Championship twice, won the SUNYAC crown in 2010 and made back-to-back appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2010.