Box Score POTSDAM, N.Y. – Coming into Saturday's State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) matchup at SUNY Potsdam, the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team hadn't lost as conference opener since the 2010 season. That streak came to an end, however, as the Bears knocked in a goal in the 74th minute, sending the Cardinals to a 1-0 setback.
Although the Cardinals (5-4-1, 0-1 SUNYAC) totaled five corner kicks to just two by the home team, the Bears (6-3-1, 1-0 SUNYAC) came out as the more aggressive team early on in the first conference battle of the year for both squads. SUNY Potsdam held a 15-11 advantage in total shots through the 90-minute confrontation.
Plattsburgh State worked its way into a number of great scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes of play, but the Cardinals best chance of the afternoon came in the second half by way of sophomore scoring machine Alexis Archilla.
After working his way past a band of SUNY Potsdam defenders, the Warwick, N.Y., product found himself one-on-on with Bears' netminder Nick Davies. Archilla wound up and fired a point-blank blast at Davies, but somehow the goalie made the save and worked the ball back up the field.
With the teams waging a scoreless battle well into the deciding frame, the Bears connected on the game's lone goal after a scrum in front of Mitchell Jordon's net. After the initial shot by the Bears went high, the Cardinals had a number of chances to work the ball out of their own territory.
Instead, the ball found the foot of Mario Riccardi who sent a soft grounder past a diving Mitchell with 74:12 gone in the game.
Plattsburgh State ramped up its offensive urgency, with its best chance of the last 10 minutes coming from Fabian Chaparro. The junior sped past a trio of SUNY Potsdam defenders and launched a mighty strike at Davies. The SUNY Potsdam goalie netminder leapt and got his fingertips on the ball, sending it just high of the crossbar.
Jordon dropped to 5-4-1 after the defeat and made four saves during the afternoon bout. Davies saw his record rise to 5-3-1 and stopped four shots of his own.
The Cardinals SUNYAC schedule will get no easier as they remain on the road to take on SUNY Cortland. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
