PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's soccer team enjoyed a rainy Senior Day victory on Saturday, as the team defeated the Fredonia Blue Devils in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action. Senior Nora Fitzgerald (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) scored the game's lone goal, helping the team pick up three important points in the league standings.

Plattsburgh celebrated ten seniors prior to the game for their contributions to the program and the institution: Tara Bendsak (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville), Avery Durgan (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown), Nora Fitzgerald, Casey Granger (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington), Sophia Hatziyianis (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa), Jessica Landman (Barneveld, N.Y./Holland Patent), Kayla Myers (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Saranac), Samantha Rachon (Marcy, N.Y./Holland Patent), Zoe Rice (Leicester, Mass./Leicester), and Katie Stevenson (Mastic Beach, N.Y./William Floyd).

Fitzgerald scored the unassisted goal in the 37^th minute as Plattsburgh had outstanding aggressiveness in their attack, notching a season-high 23 shots and putting 10 on goal. Lauren Haley (LaGrange, N.Y./Arlington) registered her fifth shutout of the year, making three saves to keep the Cards in the lead and moving her record to 4-3-3 on the season.

Plattsburgh now sits at 4-4-3 (2-1-2 SUNYAC) on the season and has eight points for a three-way tie for the third-place spot, which would safely put them in the playoff field at the moment. They next play Cortland on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 11 for a matchup with one of the top teams in the league, as each point becomes more and more important down the stretch. Fredonia falls to 5-5-2 (2-3-1 SUNYAC) and are tied for the final playoff spot in the league with seven total points. They next head to Brockport for a road contest on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

After struggling offensively for the last month of play, Plattsburgh seemingly put that behind them, immediately putting up shots and an aggressive attack out of the gate against Fredonia. Through the first 15 minutes, the team attempted five shots, putting pressure on the Blue Devil defense. The Cards continued to burden the Fredonia defense and keeper through the first half, putting four shots on goal before Fitzgerald came through with the score.

On their fourth corner kick of the first half at the 37^th minute, Rice put a great ball right into the box in front of the six-yard line, where Fitzgerald had a ball bounce off her and a defender up into the air. The Blue Devil keeper attempted to punch it out amongst the slew of bodies around her, but couldn't get much on it, and a bouncing ball found its way to Fitzgerald inside the six, where she finished with her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

The Cards continued to pressure their opponents on the offensive side, but Fredonia was able to give some pressure back, attempting eight shots in the second half and earning four corners. Plattsburgh had several close looks turned away in the second stanza, looking to put the game away, but the Blue Devils hung around. A long shot from Fredonia in the 88^th minute caught the top woodwork, and the Cardinals were able to halt an attacking Blue Devil offense in the final seconds to secure the win at home on Senior Day.

Abby Szymkowiak registered nine saves for Fredonia, allowing one goal while Bri Grazen, Maddy Payne, and Gabrielle Irwin each had shots on goal.