Boxscore and Play-by-Play
Photo Gallery - Courtesy of Gabe Dickens
 
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Despite a four-goal lead at halftime, the Plattsburgh State men’s lacrosse team needed a fourth-quarter rally to defeat RPI, 9-7, in a non-conference game Wednesday at the Field House Lacrosse Complex. With the win, the Cardinals extend their win streak to five games and match the program’s season-high in wins with 11.
 
Shots were even at 17 apiece through the first half but Plattsburgh (11-5) had the edge on the scoreboard as five different players scored to give the Cardinals a 5-0 lead. RPI (9-5) was held scoreless by the Plattsburgh defense until Brett Overend tallied a man-up goal with 1:16 left in the second quarter to make it 5-1 in favor of the Cardinals at the half.
 
The Engineers carried their momentum into the third quarter, scoring three goals in a span of 32 seconds to bring RPI within one goal. With 2:16 left in the third, David Hey netted his second of the night to tie it at 5-5.  Eric Valero gave RPI its first lead of the night with eight seconds remaining in the quarter with his 14^th of the season from Hey.
 
Plattsburgh midfielder Nick Travers tied it at 6-all with an unassisted goal at 13:27 of the fourth quarter but RPI answered right back on Andrew Miller’s goal a minute later to regain the lead.
 
The Engineers’ lead was short-lived though as Tommy Kilderry scored the equalizer at 12:18 from Mike Santisteban. Tim Lawrence and Brett McClelland rounded out the scoring for the Cardinals to secure the 9-7 win.
 
The two teams were just about even in most statistical categories. RPI held a 39-38 edge in shots and won 11-of-20 faceoffs. Both teams picked up 30 groundballs. The Engineers went 3-for-6 on their extra-man opportunities while the Cardinals were 0-for-6.
 
Kilderry, Lawrence and McClelland each tallied a pair of goals for Plattsburgh. Travers and Nick Parrella led the team with five groundballs apiece while Santisteban won eight faceoffs.
 
Miller led the Engineers with a goal, three assists and five groundballs. Hey, Overend and Valero scored two goals apiece.
 
Gordie Gehring recorded 13 saves to earn the win for Plattsburgh. RPI’s Alex Castronovo made 11 stops.
 
The Cardinals hit the road Saturday to battle Geneseo for home-field advantage in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) playoffs. A Plattsburgh win would secure the No. 2 seed and guarantee a home game in the SUNYAC semifinals. The regular season finale gets underway at 1:30 p.m.