NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Plattsburgh State men's soccer clinched a top-two finish in the State University of New York Athletic Conference SUNYAC regular-season standings and a first-round bye in the SUNYAC Tournament with a 2-0 win over SUNY New Paltz on Friday afternoon at the South Turf Field.
 
With the win, Plattsburgh State (10-6-0, 7-1-0 SUNYAC) extended its winning streak to seven matches. The winning streak, which began with a 2-1 double-overtime victory at SUNY Geneseo on Friday, Oct. 4, is the Cardinals' longest winning streak since the 2016 season when they won their first seven matches to start the year. Plattsburgh State also extended its shutout streak to six matches as the Cardinals have outscored the opposition 13-0 over that span.

All of the scoring in Friday's match with New Paltz (8-8-0, 2-6-0 SUNYAC) came in the first half as senior forward Chris Robertson (Thiells, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional (N.J.)) and junior defenseman Luke Rapaport (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) tallied goals for the Cardinals. In the 22nd minute, Robertson scored his fifth goal of the season to put Plattsburgh State up 1-0. Then in the 40th minute, Rapaport converted on a penalty kick to make the score 2-0.
 
The Plattsburgh State defense and junior goalkeeper Patrick Feeley (Harriman, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) (3-0-0) did the rest to secure the 2-0 win. The reigning PrestoSports SUNYAC Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week, Feeley made four saves in the match to earn his third consecutive shutout.
 
Marc DePasquale (7-8-0) started in net for New Paltz – allowing both goals without making a save in the first 45:00 of play. Declan Costello played the second half in relief of DePasquale and made one save.
 
Shots were 13-7 in favor of New Paltz and the Hawks held a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks.  
 
Plattsburgh State concludes its regular season with a SUNYAC match at No. 10 SUNY Oneonta (14-2-0, 7-1-0 SUNYAC) tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Red Dragon Field. Plattsburgh State and Oneonta enter the match tied for first place in the SUNYAC with 21 points. The Cardinals, who have clinched a first-round bye in the 2019 SUNYAC Men's Soccer Tournament, will host an opponent yet to be determined on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Field House Complex.