PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Plattsburgh State men's soccer looks to take a step forward in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) under second-year head coach Chris Taylor in 2019.
 
The Cardinals, who played to a 6-9-3 record (3-5-1 SUNYAC) and made the SUNYAC Tournament for the fourth consecutive season in 2018, have won eight SUNYAC titles in program history.
 
Commenting on entering his second season as men's soccer head coach at Plattsburgh State, Chris Taylor said: "We are trying to focus on ourselves this year, as opposed to last year when I think we worried a bit too much about outside influences and everyone else. This year, it is about figuring out what makes us good, perfect that, and do it day-to-day. That is the real direction – It is about Plattsburgh, it is not about anyone else. If we are good every day, then we will head in the right direction."
 
Plattsburgh State commences its 2019 season with matches at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., on Friday and at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pa., on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 5 p.m. 
 
Goalkeeper
In goal, the Cardinals return junior Ryan Wilson (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington), who played to a 5-8-3 record with a 1.08 goals against average, .818 save percentage and five shutouts in 16 start lasts. Wilson ranked third in the SUNYAC last season in both saves (81) and save percentage.
 
Plattsburgh State's goalkeeping group is rounded out by seniors Andrew Kraemer (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) and James McGarrity (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach), and junior Patrick Feeley (Harriman, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury).  
 
Defense
The Cardinal defense, which ranked tied for third in the SUNYAC in goals allowed (20) in 2018, features senior Joe Gula (New Market, Md./Oakdale), who has played 55 matches in his first three seasons at Plattsburgh State. Junior Luke Rapaport (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) also returns after starting all 18 games for the Cardinals last season. Sophomores Andrew Braverman (Sayville, N.Y./Saville), Ethan Behan (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) and Joseph Ditillo (Mastic, N.Y./William Floyd) are also returning.
 
New to the defense this season are: juniors Chris McGovern (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) and Caleb Mueller (Frankfurt, Germany/Claus-Von-Stauffenberg-Schule), sophomores James Alexander (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) and freshmen Noah Lederman (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Peru) and Christian Garner (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury).
 
Midfield
Returning in the midfield, senior Jimmy Marchena tallied two goals and four assists to tie with Chris Robertson (Thiells, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional [N.J.]) for the second-most points on the team (8) last season. In addition, juniors Matt Iuorno (Schenectady, N.Y./Guilderland), Cameron Richards (Larchmont, N.Y./Mamaroneck), Jordan Fein (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) and Yusif Okine (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady) and sophomores Alex Alejo (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen) and Ankit Patel (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) are all returning for the 2019 season.
 
Joining the midfield this season are sophomore Gianfranco Calio (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) and freshman Rocky Bujaj (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown).
 
Forward
Chris Robertson (Thiells, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional [N.J.]), who was named Second-Team All-SUNYAC in 2018, returns for his senior season in 2019. Robertson concluded the 2018 season among the SUNYAC leaders in goals (tied for 16th, 4) and points (tied for 25th, 8), while holding a share of the team lead in goals. Robertson enters the 2019 season with 13 goals and six assists for 32 points in 52 matches over three seasons at Plattsburgh State.
 
Seniors Sean Cray (Modena, N.Y./Walkill) and Kyle Pfaff (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) also return for the forward group. In 2017, Cray tallied two goals and four assists for eight points, and Pfaff garnered four goals and four assists for 12 points.
 
The forward group also includes sophomores Abdousabour Tidjani (Lomé, Togo/Plattsburgh) and Noel Vidal (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck), and freshmen Cole Weiner (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown), Alex Graci (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) and Devin Lambe (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Beacon). 

Schedule
The Cardinals begin the season with matches at Dickinson College on Friday, Aug. 30 and Elizabethtown College on Saturday, Aug. 31. The Cardinals open up their home schedule with the Best Western Plus Cardinal Classic on Friday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Field House Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. Plattsburgh State starts the classic with a match against Hobart College on Sept. 6, before facing either William Patterson or Mount Saint Mary in the consolation or championship match on Sept. 7.

Plattsburgh State plays three more non-conference matches, culminating with a home match against Clarkson University on Saturday, Sept. 21. Last season, the Cardinals defeated the then-No. 24 ranked Golden Knights 2-0 in Potsdam, N.Y.
 
The Cardinals begin SUNYAC play with home matches against Fredonia and Buffalo State on Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28, respectively.
 
Beginning SUNYAC road competition, Plattsburgh State plays at SUNY Geneseo on Friday, Oct. 4 and defending SUNYAC champion The College at Brockport on Saturday, Oct. 5.
 
The Cardinals final home weekend of the regular season features matches against No. 11 SUNY Cortland on Friday, Oct. 18 and Oswego State for Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 19.
 
Plattsburgh State plays its final non-conference match of the season at SUNY Canton on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
 
The Cardinals end the regular season at SUNY Oneonta on Oct. 26.
 
The SUNYAC Tournament is set to begin with the first round set for Saturday, Nov. 2. The semifinals are slated for Wednesday, Nov. 6 and the championship is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 9. The top six teams in the SUNYAC make the conference tournament with the tournament champion earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.