PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Fans who attended the Plattsburgh State/Clarkson women's soccer clash on Tuesday night at the Field House Complex were treated to an offensive showcase as the Cardinals broke out of their slump in a big way by blasting the visiting Golden Knights 4-0. Freshman Diana DiCocco was the star of the show, as she netted the first two goals of her collegiate career.

Thanks to their emphatic non-conference victory, the Cardinals improve to 2-5-1 while Clarkson slides to 3-5. Since the Cardinals and Golden Knights began their all-time series in 1983, Plattsburgh State has never lost a home game to Clarkson (16-0).

In the early stages of the match it looked as though Clarkson would grab an early lead, but a header by Aubrey Harris deflected off of the far post and out of bounds. After the Golden Knights' botched scoring attempt at 20:09, the Cardinals took the lead for good.

Sophomore Cammey Keyser fed senior midfielder Emily LaLone a pinpoint pass which the Watertown, N.Y., product blasted over the head of Clarkson netminder Kim Kenline to put the Cardinals up 1-0 at the 25:19 mark. The goal was LaLone's second of the season.

DiCocco struck for the first time just 85 seconds later. Again it was Keyser who footed a splendid pass to the freshman who ripped a mighty shot from just inside the 18-yard box that ricocheted off the left post and past a diving Kenline to make it 2-0 Plattsburgh State.

With 66:43 gone from the match, DiCocco put the game out of reach for the Golden Knights. The Schenectady, N.Y., product didn't need to put quite as much effort into her second goal as her first thanks to the slick moves of Ashley Pagano.

The junior went on an attacking run before sending the ball over to DiCocco who was standing mere feet from the open goal mouth. DiCocco made it 3-0 with a soft one-touch tally.

Pagano picked up her second assist of the evening when she located freshman Vicky Scott making a break for the Clarkson net at the 78:13 mark. Scott, who was one-on-one with Kimline, shot a low grounder into the far left corner of the net to account for the final score.

Making her first start in net, junior Kristy Kirkpatrick earned the victory to even her 2013 record at 1-1. Kimline fell to 3-5 by surrendering nearly as many goals in 90 minutes as she had in her previous seven starts.  

DiCocco led Plattsburgh State's offensve by taking four shots - three of which were on goal. 

The Cardinals owned a 12-6 advantage in shots and a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal. Each team took four corner kicks through the course of the match.  

With the majority of their 2013 non-conference slate now a matter of record, the Cardinals turn their attention to their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) schedule. Plattsburgh State begins league play on Saturday when it makes the relatively short journey to Potsdam to confront SUNY Potsdam. The Cardinals and Bears will begin their match at 1 p.m.