2023 Roster
2023 Schedule
2022 Statistics

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Plattsburgh State Women's Soccer team will begin their 2023 season when they open the year at home on Friday, September 1^st against Vermont State University Castleton at 4 p.m.

The team is coming off an 11-6-2 season, finishing 5-3-1 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play. The team earned the fourth seed in the conference playoffs but fell in double overtime in the opening round of the postseason to Oswego State.

Head Coach Whitney Frary will have an excellent defense and senior group to turn to in her second year at Plattsburgh State, as the crew will look for their ninth straight trip to the SUNYAC playoffs. With eight of the 11 starters returning from last year's playoff game, the team should be ready to navigate another year in an ultra-competitive SUNAYC conference, a league the team was picked to finish fourth

Leading the team this year will be four captains: seniors Avery Durgan (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown), Nora Fitzgerald (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle), Casey Granger (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington), and junior goalie Lauren Haley (LaGrange, N.Y./Arlington).

Forwards
With the departure of All-SUNYAC forwards Kirsten Villemaire and Allison Seidman, who combined for 39 of the team's 90 points last year, the offense will be revamped in 2023. Headlining the forward group is the team's lone returning all-conference selection, Nora Fitzgerald. She also earned United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region honors in 2022, splitting time at defense and forward, as she was third on the team with 11 points.

Fitzgerald will be joined by returning seniors Tara Bendsak (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) and Avery Durgan, with Bendsak scoring once last year and Durgan tallying seven points in 18 games played. Also back for the Cards are juniors Allison Brown (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) and Ella Santomassimo (Poughquag, N.Y./Arlington), as well as sophomores Claire Bottjer (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) and Sally Gliganic (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville). The group will look to mentor just one newcomer to the unit in 2023 with first-year Macie Bolton (Belchertown, Mass/Belchertown).

Midfielders
Sophia Hatziyianis (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa Park) and Samantha Rachon (Marcry, N.Y./Holland Patent) each return to the midfield squad in 2023 after both playing in 19 games last year, earning 17 and 15 starts respectively in the midfield.

The rest of the 2023 group is comprised of all returners with juniors Amanda Cohen (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas), Catrina Maltes (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville), and Jessica Mare (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park), as well as sophomores Jillian Bezio (Keeseville, N.Y./AuSable Valley), Hannah Meyers (Peru, N.Y./Peru), and Kathy Peterson-Ross (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest). The six veterans will provide solid depth and experience to the midfield cohort in 2023.

Defenders
The Cardinal backline will return plenty of experience and skill in 2023, as all the main pieces of the Plattsburgh defense that held opponents to .89 goals per game have returned for the upcoming year. Former all-conference selection and current captain Casey Granger will lead a senior group that also features seniors Kayla Myers (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Saranac) and Katie Stevenson (Mastic Beach, N.Y./William Floyd), as the three were all in the top three spots for minutes played last ear. Zoe Rice (Leicester, Mass./Leicester), who scored two goals last year, and Jessica Landman (Barneveld, N.Y./Holland Patent) round out the group of six seniors that help make a skilled and veteran defensive group.

Filling out the rest of the defensive unit begins with junior transfer Mackenzie Lawless (Dansville, N.Y./Dansville), who played in 37 games over two years for Monroe Community College, and sophomore Alexis Patrick (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake). Additionally, two first-years, Maria Mauro (Farmingdale, N.Y./Plainedge) and Lia Parker (Cadyville, N.Y./Saranac), begin their Plattsburgh careers in the defensive group in 2023

Goalkeepers
After a spectacular sophomore campaign, Lauren Haley returns as goalkeeper for the Cardinals in the upcoming season. In 13 games played and 12 games started last year, the now junior posted an 8-3-1 record, allowing just 11 goals for a goals-against average of .90, and also had seven shutouts.

First-years Lily Bailey (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) and Brook DaSilva (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) will provide relief for Haley in 2023 as they begin their college careers.