POTSDAM, N.Y. – The No. 21 Plattsburgh State men's soccer team scored two first-half goals in a 2-0 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC)-opening victory over North Country rival SUNY Potsdam on Saturday afternoon at the Maxcy Turf Field.
 
Plattsburgh State opened scoring in the 17th minute, as the Cardinals scored on a corner kick. After junior midfielder Ian Spear (Peru, N.Y./Peru) played in the ball from the corner, senior forward Alexis Archilla (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) found the back of the net off a header from freshman defender Joe Gula (New Market, Md./Oakdale) to give Plattsburgh State an early 1-0 lead. Junior midfielder Nicholas Laurent (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) then added insurance to the Cardinals' cause in the 29th minute, scoring off a saved shot by Archilla. That score held up throughout the remainder of the contest, and Plattsburgh State came away with the conference-opening win.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 8-1-0 overall (1-0-0 SUNYAC) with the win and next visits Oswego State on Friday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. Potsdam drops to 5-2-1 overall (0-1-0 SUNYAC) with the loss and next visits SUNY Cortland on Friday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m.
 
The Cardinals finished with an 11-8 edge in shots and a 4-2 cushion in corner kicks.
 
Junior goalkeeper Andrew LaClaustra (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) posted his fifth shutout of the season, making four stops in the victory for Plattsburgh State. His counterpart, freshman Jake Mitchell, made three saves in the setback for Potsdam.