PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – A goal by senior forward Alexis Archilla (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) in the 58th minute lifted the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Medaille College Saturday afternoon at the Field House Soccer Complex, giving the Cardinals the 2016 Best Western Plus Cardinal Classic title based on points earned.
 
Plattsburgh State was the only team to post two wins, finishing with six points. SUNY Potsdam topped Salve Regina University, 2-1, in overtime in the first game on Saturday to finish second with four points. Medaille tallied one point based on a tie with Potsdam on Friday to place third, while Salve Regina finished fourth.
 
Archilla earned Offensive MVP honors, while Medaille's senior goalkeeper Brian Arcara was named the Defensive MVP. The All-Tournament Team consisted of junior midfielder Ian Spear (Peru, N.Y./Peru) and junior midfielder Nicholas Laurent (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) of Plattsburgh State, junior midfielder Chris Schrum and junior defender Matthew Wagner of Potsdam and senior defender Michael Lennox of Medaille.
 
Plattsburgh State moves to 2-0-0 overall with the victory and next visits North Country foe Clarkson University in a non-conference game on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. Medaille drops to 0-1-1 with the loss and visits Buffalo State next on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 4 p.m.
 
After a first half in which quality offensive chances came at a premium for both teams, the Cardinals began chipping away at the Mavericks' defensive front early in the second stanza. Archilla sent a header wide of the goal in the 51st minute, and senior defender Nick Economou (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) put a shot on goal in the 56th minute before Archilla put the home team on the board in the 58th minute. After a scramble for a loose ball in the box, Archilla fired a shot that beat the keeper to the bottom left-hand side of the net.
 
Neither team was able to provide any more offense the rest of the contest, and Plattsburgh State escaped with the win and Best Western Plus Cardinal Classic championship.
 
With his game-winning score, Archilla moves into a tie for fourth on the program's all-time goals list, as he now has 42 on his career. Rich King (1993-96), Chris Gondek (1995-98) and current assistant coach Pat Shaughnessy (2008-11) all are tied with Archilla.
 
Plattsburgh State finished with a slight edge in shots (9-8) and corner kicks (8-5).
 
Junior goalkeeper Andrew LaClaustra (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) posted his first clean sheet as a Cardinal keeper, as he turned aside two shots in the shutout victory. Arcara made four saves in the loss for Medaille, including one off of a penalty kick in the first half.