PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Back-to-back one-goal wins have put the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team (14-5-1) in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship match against Cortland (11-6-1) Saturday at 11 a.m. The winner of Saturday's matchup will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament.
After defeating Buffalo State and top-seeded Oneonta already in the playoffs, the Cardinals are seeking their eighth SUNYAC championship and the first since 2010. The second-seeded Red Dragons are in their first title game since 2008 as they look for their 12th conference championship.
Saturday's match marks the 57th time these teams have met all-time, with Cortland holding the advantage 32-20-4. Since 2000, Plattsburgh State and Cortland are 2-2 head-to-head in postseason matchups. Last year, the Cardinals eliminated Cortland with a 4-2 semifinal win. Earlier this season, the Red Dragons came into Plattsburgh and beat the Cardinals 2-1 in overtime off sophomore Dillon Johnson's header six minutes into the period.
Fans may follow Saturday's action via live stats and live video at the link below.
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No. 4 PLATTSBURGH STATE
The Cardinals return to the SUNYAC championship game for the third time in four seasons. After claiming the title in 2010, Plattsburgh State fell in the 2012 finals. Backed by a mix of young and seasoned players, the Cardinals are one win away from an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.
This year's squad continues to shine under freshman standout Alexis Archilla (nine goals, three assists) and senior All-American Matt Hamilton (seven goals, four assists). Archilla netted both goals against Buffalo State while Hamilton buried the lone goal at Oneonta. Sophomore goalkeeper Mitchell Jordon has allowed just one goal through two postseason games, including a seven-save shutout in the semifinal match.
Plattsburgh State's offense leads the conference with 2.1 goals per game and 8.3 shots-on-goal per game. Cortland, on the flip side, turns aside 85 percent of its opponents' shots.
Hamilton, along with Tom Greene and Joe Aratari, are the remaining players from the 2010 championship squad.
No. 2 CORTLAND
The Red Dragons earned a first-round bye and the team is coming off a 1-0 semifinal win against Brockport. Junior Matt Williams scored Cortland's only goal late in the first half while junior keeper Tim Beauvais stopped five shots for the shutout.
Senior Bryan Merlos and junior Darren McCormack both lead the Red Dragons with six goals and Merlos has three game-winning tallies. McCormack's 53 shots are a conference-high while Beauvais leads all SUNYAC keepers with 6.47 saves per game.
In addition to its high save total, Cortland also leads the conference with 107 corner kicks. Both teams strike early on the scoreboard. Cortland has 18 first-half goals while Plattsburgh State has 22.
