Laurent, Archilla Power Cardinals to 3-1 Win Over Taylor-Led Clarkson

Plattsburgh State head coach Chris Waterbury (left) and Clarkson head coach Chris Taylor (right) speak before Tuesday night's game.

Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2014) – Round one of the coaching matchup between Plattsburgh State's Chris Waterbury and one of his former stars – Clarkson head coach Chris Taylor – went down in the books as a win for the teacher.

Freshman Nicholas Laurent scored a pair of goals and second-year man and reigning ECAC DIII Upstate Offensive Player of the Week Alexis Archilla pumped in his SUNYAC-leading seventh goal of the season to lead the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team (5-2) to a 3-1 win over Clarkson (4-3-1) on Wednesday night at Plattsburgh High School.

Back in the city where he put together one of the greatest four-year careers in a Plattsburgh State soccer uniform, Taylor found himself on the losing end of his first-ever coaching confrontation with Waterbury, but Taylor's Golden Knights had some excellent opportunities to escape with a victory as the night progressed.

It turned out to be Clarkson which was presented with the first genuine scoring opportunity of the night. Coming in toward the Plattsburgh State net along the far sideline, Trevor Blackwell got a strong foot on a ball which glanced off of one of the Cardinals' crossbars in the third minute.

No more than four minutes later, Plattsburgh State struck for its first goal of the bout. Controlling the ball was senior Nick Parrella who launched a cross toward Laurent who was standing unmarked near the far side of the Golden Kinghts' goal. Laurent leaped and drove a strong header into the top corner of the net, staking the Cardinals to a 1-0 lead.

Laurent nearly registered his second score of the tilt in the 26^th minute. The New City, N.Y., product located a loose ball no more than six yards from the mouth of Clarkson's goal, but his mighty blast deflected off of the post.

Mitchell Jordan made two of his three saves in the waning minutes of the first stanza, first denying Kyle Fisk with a scoop save in the 42^nd minute before turning aside a shot from James Cowie in the 43rd.

Early on in the deciding frame, Clarkson took on the role of the aggressor. A foul by the Cardinals at the 51:41 mark allowed Marco Parisi to set up shop for a free kick from roughly 30 yards out. Parisi's long drive clanged off of the Plattsburgh State crossbar, but another Plattsburgh State foul allowed Parisi to have another go at the equalizer.

He didn't miss the second time, winding up on another free kick and burying his second goal of the season with 52:47 gone in the non-conference game. Jordon made a diving play at the ball, but his vision was obstructed thanks to a well-built wall of Golden Knights.

As the second half wore on, the Cardinals fought to locate some more good opportunities for offense before Fabian Chaparro came up with an aggressive play on defense to put the Cardinals ahead for good.

The junior swindled the ball from a pair of Golden Knights and chipped it ahead to an unimpeded Archilla. From there, the sophomore made a chip shot of his own, this one over the head of Clarkson netminder Michael King who had come out to try and oppose the reigning SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Week.

Archilla's just watched as his seventh goal of the season dribbled into the Clarkson net. His goal was the fourth game-winner of the season and no other NCAA Division III men's soccer player has amassed more of them this season than the Warwick, N.Y., product.

Just over two minutes later, Chaparro racked up his second helper of the night. The third-year man saw a breakaway developing and wisely sent a drive up the field to Laurent who toppled King with some nifty footwork and added his second score of the night at the 75:53 mark to account for the final score.

Jordan improved to 5-2 by making four saves. Plattsburgh State owned a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks as well as a 20-9 edge in total shots. King made three stops in the loss.

Plattsburgh State will face another road test on Saturday when it heads south to do battle at Skidmore College. The bout between the Cardinals and Thoroughbreds is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

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