PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Plattsburgh State men's soccer used two second-half goals to defeat Fredonia 2-0 in its State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opener on Friday at the Field House Complex.
 
Plattsburgh State (3-5-0, 1-0-0 SUNYAC) and Fredonia (3-4-2, 0-1-0 SUNYAC) played a scoreless first half with each team recording five shots. Plattsburgh State's junior goalkeeper Ryan Wilson (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) (3-5-0) made four saves in the first 45:00 of play.
 
The Cardinals outscored the Blue Devils 2-0 in the second half to earn the victory. Senior forward Chris Robertson (Thiells, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional (N.J.)) scored the game-winning goal in the 56th minute. In their defensive end of the field, Plattsburgh State's senior midfielder Jimmy Marchena (Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) forced a Fredonia turnover. Marchena raced to near midfield before playing the ball ahead to a sprinting Robertson, who dribbled into the top-left portion of the 18-yard box and fired a shot that found the left side of the net.
 
The score remained 1-0 until the 79th minute when the Cardinals scored again. Junior defender Luke Rapaport (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) took a corner kick that a Blue Devil defender headed into their net for an own goal that put Plattsburgh State up 2-0. The Cardinal defense did the rest as they limited the Blue Devils to two shots (one on goal) in the second half to preserve the 2-0 win.     
 
Wilson made five saves in the match for Plattsburgh State and Ty Bentham (3-3-1) made four stops in goal for Fredonia.
 
The Cardinals outshot the Blue Devils 12-7, including a 7-2 margin in the second half. Fredonia held a 7-3 edge in corner kicks. 
 
Plattsburgh State continues SUNYAC play against Buffalo State at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Field House Complex. Fredonia travels to Potsdam for a conference match tomorrow at 1 p.m.