ALBANY, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's soccer team defeated Russell Sage on Tuesday evening, putting up three goals for the third time this season, winning 3-1. Xavier Kamba (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Nyack) and Tristan Laundree (Keeseville, N.Y./AuSable Valley) each scored their first career goals, helping the Cardinals continue their undefeated start to the season.
 
John Hayes (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) was the first Cardinal to score in the 17^th minute and was followed quickly after with the game-winner from Kamba. Laundree added his score in the second half to build the Cards' lead, while Jack Healy (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River), Michael Rodriguez (Jefferson Valley, N.Y./Lakeland), and Kamba each picked up assists. Rodriguez assisted on the first goal of the day, picking up the first helper of his Plattsburgh career in the process. Teddy Healy (Amityville, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) earned the win in goal, making three saves to move to 3-0-1 on the year.
 
Plattsburgh improves to 3-0-1 on the year and will next host Union College at home on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. The Gators fall to 2-2-1 on the year and next face Nazareth in their conference opener on Saturday, Sept. 16 as well. 
 
The game began with Russell Sage earning a couple of corner kicks and putting a shot on goal that was saved. For Plattsburgh, Rodriguez was able to attempt the first shot of the game for the Cardinals in the 11^thminute and nearly had his first career goal, but his shot sailed off the crossbar. 
 
The Cards notched their first two goals in less than a minute span to kick off the scoring, with Hayes scoring late in the 17^th minute. Rodriguez picked up the assist, finding Hayes cutting to the middle of the box with a brilliant touch off his right foot, leading him past two Gator defenders right to the goal for the score around the keeper. 
 
Less than 30 seconds later, Plattsburgh added another goal, this time thanks to a long pass down the field from Healy to Kamba. Healy led the first-year forward right to the top of the box with a ball from deep in the Cardinal defensive zone. Kamba then had just the goalie to beat at the top of the box, and he slid to push the shot past the aggressive Sage keeper for his first collegiate score.
 
Down 2-0 after the first 45 minutes of play, Russell Sage was aggressive in the second half, and found their first goal with a score of the foot of El Hadji Iba Sy, as Andrew Kraszewski found his teammate to cut the Cardinal lead in half in the 55^th minute.
 
A little over 10 minutes later, the Cards stretched their lead back to two goals, as the Plattsburgh first-year duo of Kamba and Laundree worked together excellently in transition, with Kamba making the last touch to Laundree for his first career score. 
 
Over the final 20-plus minutes, the Cardinal defense held strong, holding the Gators to just three shots to secure the road win. 
 
For Russell Sage Tyler Brennan made three saves and allowed three goals to take the loss in net.