ALBANY, N.Y. — Plattsburgh State men's soccer cruised to a 5-0 victory over Russell Sage College in a non-conference match on Tuesday afternoon at ACP Stadium.
Plattsburgh State, which improved its record to 3-3-0 on the season, commences State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play with a home match against Oswego State at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24. Sage (3-3-1) plays a road conference match against Alfred University at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The Cardinals scored twice in the first half to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
First-year midfielder Brian Coughlan (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) made the score 1-0 in the 13th minute. Coughlan, who received a pass in the 18-yard box from sophomore midfielder Kevin Abbondanza (Rye, N.Y./Rye), finished with a shot into the lower-right corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season.
The score remained 1-0 until the 35th minute when senior forward Yusif Okine (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady) tallied his second goal of the season to make the score 2-0. After receiving a pass near the top of the 18-yard box, Okine evaded multiple defenders as he dribbled towards the left side of the goal and scored with a left-footed shot into the lower-right corner.
The Cardinals scored three more goals in the second half to complete the 5-0 victory.
In the 51st minute, Coughlan played a pass from the right side across the front of the goal to senior midfielder Cameron Richards (Larchmont, N.Y./Mamaroneck), who one-timed a shot into the lower-left part of the goal to make the score 3-0.
Richards scored again in the 58th minute to make the score 4-0. Sophomore midfielder Dylan Shalvey (Cavan, Ireland/Tappan Zee) played the ball from the right side of the midfield towards the top of the 18-yard box. Richardson collected the pass and scored with a low shot from near the top of the 18-yard box.
Senior midfielder Trey Ekert (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) made the final score 5-0 with his first goal as a Cardinal. Ekert scored on a low shot from near the top of the 18-yard box in the 85th minute.
First-year goaltender Teddy Healy (Amityville, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) improved to 3-3-0 on the season after making three saves in 62:43 of action. With Cardinals in control of the game, Healy was relieved by first-year goalkeeper Matthew Heimowitz (Great Neck, N.Y./John L. Miller Great Neck North) for the final 27:17. Heimowitz made two saves.
Nolan Murphy started in goal for Sage and allowed four goals with five saves over 57:39 played. Murphy was relieved by Tyler Brennan, who allowed one goal and made two saves over the final 32:21 of the match.
Plattsburgh State held a 15-8 advantage in shots, including a 12-5 edge in shots on goal.
