PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Plattsburgh State women's soccer is set to begin its sixth season under head coach Tania Armellino in 2019.

Armellino, who has a 58-34-6 (26-15-4 State University of New York Athletic Conference) record at Plattsburgh State, guided the Cardinals to a 13-6 (6-3 SUNYAC) record in 2018. After losing their first three conference matches last season, the Cardinals bounced back to win their final six regular-season SUNYAC matches to finish fourth in the conference standings. Plattsburgh State reached the semifinal match of the SUNYAC Tournament.

"The expectation for this season is to compete for the top spot (in the SUNYAC)," Armellino said. "We want to not only finish again in the top four, but we want to fight for the No. 1 (position in the conference). Going into 2019, that is the goal of our team." Armellino added, "We are returning a lot of great talent and we have some wonderful new talent, so we know we can get it done."

Forward
The Cardinals return their top-three leading goal scorers from last season. Sophomore Allison Seidman (Commack, N.Y./Commack) led the team in assists (7), points (19) and game-winning goals (5), while tying for second in goals scored (6). Seidman was named the 2018 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and garnered First-Team All-SUNYAC honors. Seidman registered either a goal or an assist in eight different matches and she scored four times against SUNYAC opposition. She was also named to the NCAA Division III All-East Region Second Team.

Another Cardinal, who had a strong rookie season in 2018, is sophomore Kirsten Villemaire (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown). Villemaire garnered seven goals and three assists for 17 points in 15 matches. Villemaire, who was named Second-Team All-SUNYAC last season, had two game-winning goals. 

Senior forward Katie Matott (Rouses Point, N.Y./Northeastern Clinton) was named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-District First Team for District III of NCAA Division III. She was also named Second-Team All-SUNYAC after tallying six goals and two assists for 14 points, while playing in all 19 matches in 2018. Matott was tied for second on the team in goals, while ranking third in points. Two of her goals were game winners.

Also in Plattsburgh State's forward group are: junior Katie Ogden (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna), sophomores Lauren Vellecca (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park), Emily Frodyma (Watervliet, N.Y./Catholic Central), Natalie Nista (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) and Taylor Tous (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue), and freshman Anna McDuffie (Gardiner, N.Y./New Paltz).

Midfield
Returning for Plattsburgh State in the midfield, junior Abigail Seamans (Bolton Landing, N.Y./Bolton Central) led all Cardinal midfielders and was fourth on the team with nine points on three goals (one game winner) and three assists.  
Senior Rachael Moran (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington) played in 13 matches (all starts), while sophomore Erin Metzger (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) made 18 starts and was third on the team with 1,616 minutes played.  

Others returners at the midfield position are: seniors Amanda Steinman (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) and Vina Nguyen (Shelburne, Vt./Champlain Valley Union), and junior Sarah Stietzle (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River).
Freshmen Claudia Fountain (Waterford, N.Y./Catholic Central) and Nicole Kingsley (Queensbury, N.Y./Lake George) are newcomers in the midfield this season.

Defense
The Plattsburgh State defense limited opponents to 1.00 goals per game in 2018. Senior Sarah Bonner (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) started all 19 matches – playing the second-most minutes on the team (1,659). For her efforts, Bonner was named Second-Team All-SUNYAC.

Joining Bonner on defense, junior Allie Boudreau (Bennington, Vt./Mount Anthony Union) made 18 starts and played 1,544 minutes in 2018.

In addition, senior Alex Benjamin (Altamont, N.Y./Guilderland), sophomores Jenna McCracken (St. Albans, Vt./Bellows Free Academy), Samantha Cloidt (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) and Tess Klugman (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) are also returning on defense.

Freshmen Gabriella Iadanza (Moriches, N.Y/William Floyd), Emily Caso (Selden, N.Y./Newfield) and Stryder Underwood (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) are new to the defensive unit in 2019.

Goalkeepers
In goal for the Cardinals, senior Tina Bedard (Morrisonville, N.Y./Saranac), and freshmen Lauren Vahle (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) and Julia Ennis (Carmel, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) are all competing for playing time.

Schedule
Plattsburgh State is set to play a 17-game regular-season schedule that includes a match against last year's national runner-up, Middlebury College.

The Cardinals kick off the season on Friday, Aug. 30, against Castleton University at the Field House Complex before visiting Union College on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Plattsburgh State then opens up a four-game home stand that begins against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Saturday, Sept. 7) and culminates with a match against Colby-Sawyer College (Tuesday, Sept. 17).

The Cardinals begin SUNYAC play as they visit Fredonia and Buffalo State on Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28, respectively. Plattsburgh's first home SUNYAC matches are against defending SUNYAC champion SUNY Geneseo (Friday, Oct. 4) and The College at Brockport (Saturday, Oct. 5).

Plattsburgh State is scheduled to face SUNY Oneonta on Saturday, Oct. 26 on Senior Day in its final SUNYAC game of the year. 

The top six teams in the final conference standings will qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament, with the first round set for Saturday, Nov. 2, the semifinal round slated for Wednesday, Nov. 6, and the championship game scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 9. The SUNYAC champion will earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.