PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – A first-half goal by SUNY New Paltz was the difference in the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team's 1-0 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) loss to the Hawks on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at the Field House Complex.
 
Prior to the start of the game, the Cardinals honored their five seniors: Jack Macchia (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa), Taka Fukushima (Noda, Japan/Municipal Kashiwa), Amani Francois (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison), Austin Tetreault (Rouses Point, N.Y./Northeastern Clinton) and Alex Price (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown).
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 5-6-3 overall (3-3-1 SUNYAC) with the loss and currently is tied with Buffalo State for fifth in the conference standings with 10 points. The Cardinals next host SUNY Canton on Tuesday, Oct. 16, in their regular-season home finale at 4 p.m. New Paltz rises to 10-4-1 overall (5-2-1 SUNYAC) with the win and next hosts William Paterson University on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m.
 
New Paltz posted what wound up being the game-winner in the 21st minute. The Hawks sent a long throw-in from the right sideline into the box, and junior defender Luke Dole collected the ball around 10 yards out. He settled the feed by kneeing it in front of him and scored on a right-footed strike from the top right corner of the 6-yard box.
 
The Cardinals took two shot attempts inside of one minute left in the first half, but New Paltz entered the intermission with a 1-0 advantage.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Wilson (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) was sprung into action twice in the 53rd minute but denied each chance to keep the deficit at one goal. Freshman forward James Maltes had the Hawks' best chance at opening up the lead to two in the 54th minute, drawing the crossbar with a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box.
 
With time winding down, the Cardinals' best chances late came in the 87th minute. Junior forward Connor Nembach (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) attempted a header with New Paltz's sophomore goalkeeper Marc DePasquale challenging for the ball, but DePasquale was able to prevent Nembach from getting a good piece of it. Seconds later, freshman midfielder Alex Alejo (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen) blasted a strike that sailed over the crossbar.
 
Both teams finished with 10 shots and two corner kicks.
 
Wilson made three saves in the loss for the Cardinals, while DePasquale posted a five-save shutout in the win for the Hawks.