PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – In what served as its 2014 finale, the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team left little in doubt, receiving a pair of first-half goals from sophomore forward Chris Bowden to go along with a trio of additional scores to help the Cardinals dispatch Utica College by a 5-1 tally at the Field House Complex on Wednesday night.  

The Pioneers didn't stand a chance thanks in large part to the Cardinals' high-powered offense which amassed some 29 total shots compared to just five by Utica. Thanks to their lopsided home triumph, the Cardinals see their final 2014 record improve to 9-9-1 while the Pioneers fall to 6-8-3 pm the year.

Utilizing the exact same connection that produced the Cardinals' second goal of the season way back on August 29, Plattsburgh State netted would go ahead for good thanks to some nifty play from sophomore Alexis Archilla and freshman Ian Spear.

With just 1:36 gone in the non-conference, Archilla threaded a through ball to Spear who pushed things ahead only to see Utica netminder Matthew Milograno vacate his post in an attempt to put the brakes on the Peru, N.Y., product. Spear deftly avoided the Pioneer, and tapped the ball into the open net for his third tally of 2014.

Plattsburgh State maintained an ongoing offensive onslaught and before long Archilla targeted another freshman for what would hold up as the game-winner.
Streaking along the far side of the field, Archilla sent a through ball to first-year man Nicholas Laurent who found himself one-on-one with Milograno. The New City, N.Y., product dribbled in and sent a sharp shot through the legs of Milograno to make matters 2-0 Plattsburgh State at 21:36.

The score was Laurent's fourth of 2014 – the highest goal total of among all Cardinal first-year players. With his second assist of the night, Archilla upped his season point harvest to 32 (14 goals, four assists) which is the highest total in the SUNYAC.

Bowden struck for the first time late in the 27^th minute when Nelson Vetter footed a ball up to the Commack, N.Y., product. Angled at the far side of the net, Bowden set up and ripped a mighty grounder past a diving Milograno.

Along with Owen Nuss and Jon Cabeca, Bowden found himself in the midst of a three-on-zero Plattsburgh State rush in the 38^th minute. Cabeca blasted a high shot that bounced off the Pioneers' crossbar and redirected right to the foot of Bowden. From there, Bowden simply tapped in his second of the game to make the score 4-0 Cardinals.

As the outcome was no longer a question, the Cardinals used the second half to send in a number of underclassmen to finish things off. A pair of those freshmen joined forces for the fifth Plattsburgh State score of the night.

Juan Rodriguez saw Matt Henning take a run on net and volleyed the ball over to him. Henning settled it down before lifting a high, arcing shot over the head of David Abdou who took over in net for Milograno. The goal at 77:27 was the first of Henning's collegiate career.

Anthony Fotino broke up the Cardinals' shutout bid in the 82^nd minute. The Pioneer collected the rebound off a save by Plattsburgh State goalkeeper Matt Bonomini and sent it to the far corner of the net for his first of the season.

In his first complete game between the pipes, Bonomini surrendered just the one goal and made one save. Utica's backstopping tandem of Milograno and Abdou combined to make eight saves in the one-sided tilt.

Cabeca took a game-high five shots for the Cardinals while senior Nick Parrella attempted four.

Wednesday night marked the final collegiate soccer hurrah for four seniors including Bonomini, Parrella, Wade Goehle and Sean Murphy. That particular foursome has helped the Plattsburgh State men's soccer program compile a 54-24-5 record in their tenure. During that span, the Cardinals made back-to-back trips to the SUNYAC Tournament Finals, won the SUNYAC crown in 2013 and made an appearance in the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament that same season.