Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After seeing a 2-0 lead quickly erased, the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team found itself headed to overtime and in need of a big goal. A big goal is what they got when Fabian Chaparro's bicycle kick gave the Cardinals a highlight-reel goal, lifting Plattsburgh State to a 3-2 overtime victory against the Buffalo State Bengals.
With just a minute gone in the first overtime, Joe Aratari made a cross pass from the right side before Chaparro took a leap of faith. The junior midfielder went up high into the air for the bicycle kick and was able to get his right boot on the ball to send it sailing into the right corner of the net for the dramatic game-winner.
The goal cemented its spot in Plattsburgh State history, giving the Cardinals their first taste of national attention on ESPN's SportsCenter. Chaparro's bicycle kick landed at No. 3 on SportsCenter's Top Plays later in the evening.
Despite the dramatic finish, the Cardinals appeared to have the game in hand with a 2-0 lead late in the game. Plattsburgh State struck early on Ethan Votraw's second of the season at 5:48 to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead that the home team would take to the half. Tom Greene picked up an assist on the goal, extending his point streak to five games.
The Bengals started to show some life in the second half, but Chaparro gave the Cardinals what appeared to be some breathing room at 77:28 when he settled the ball and fired a shot past the diving goalkeeper into the left side to make it a two-goal game.
Buffalo State clawed its way back into the game less than two minutes later when Andrew Dugan's header got past Mitchell Jordon, cutting the Bengals' deficit in half at 79:15.
The visitors tied it up at 84:39 when Dugan scored again with a header off C.J. Scirto's corner kick to send the game to overtime before Chaparro's ended it with the quick goal.
The Cardinals outshot the Bengals, 17-10, while each side drew five corner kicks.
Jordon made five saves in the win for the Cardinals, improving to 7-2-0 on the year. Bengals' goalkeeper Ian Huntoon made four stops in the loss.
With the win, Plattsburgh State moves to 10-3-1 overall and 4-2-0 in league play. Buffalo State drops to 6-7-1 on the year and 2-4-0 in the conference.
Plattsburgh State returns to action tomorrow afternoon in the final home game of the regular season. The Cardinals will honor the 2013 senior class before hosting Fredonia State at 1 p.m. at the Field House Turf Complex.
