PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's soccer team used a late goal from Jack Healy (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) to overcome the visiting Garnet Chargers of Union for a 2-1 victory on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Cardinals remain undefeated, as they also have their most wins to begin a season without a loss since a 7-0 start in 2016.

Healy scored the game-winner in the 86^th minute, breaking a nearly 60-minute standstill at 1-1 for a Plattsburgh victory. Modou Badjie (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) tied the game in the 26^th minute after a 6th-minute goal gave Union an early 1-0 lead. Brian Coughlan (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) and Frankie Palumbo (Walkill, N.Y./Walkill) each picked up assists, while Teddy Healy (Amityville, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) earned the win in goal with one save, moving to 4-0-1 on the year.

Plattsburgh remains undefeated, now sitting at 4-0-1 on the season, as they begin conference play at home next week on Wednesday, Sept. 20^th when they take on SUNY Potsdam. Union falls to 2-3-1 on the year and will play Williams next on Sept. 19.

The game began with the Cardinals getting a great look in the third minute, but John Hayes' (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) shot found the right woodwork of the goal, just missing an early 1-0 lead. After a Plattsburgh corner, Union moved the ball back down the field and found the back of the net on a loose ball in the box, taking an early 1-0 lead themselves in the 6th minute, off the foot of Aiden Normand.  

With the Plattsburgh offense looking to find some life, the Cardinals made three offensive substitutions in the 25^th minute, with one paying immediate dividends exactly a minute later. Working on the left side of the field about 15 yards outside the box, Badjie lost one defender with fantastic dribbling and raced past another Garnet Charger defender, putting a shot into the back of the net through a tight window on the left side of the goal with his left foot. The 26th-minute goal tied the score and gave Badjie his second score of the season.

At the half, shots and corner kicks were nearly even, as the game was very closely played throughout the first 45 minutes, as well as its entirety. After nearly 20 minutes of a tie game in the first half, the game continued to be even as each team worked to get a chance at the lead in the second period.

A rare indirect free kick from inside the box was called in the 71^st minute after the Union keeper illegally touched a ball in the box from his own teammate. This set up a kick for Plattsburgh about eight yards out from the goal. The Garnet Chargers wisely set up a line directly in front of the goal of nearly their entire team, and Plattsburgh smartly worked the free kick around to the other side of the goal, but a shot from Tristan Laundree (Keeseville, N.Y./AuSable Valley) was saved in an excellent effort from the Union goalie to keep the game tied.

Over the next 15 minutes, the game remained in the same battle it had since the 26^th minute, with neither team able to find the back of the net. However, in the 85^th minute, Plattsburgh earned their third corner kick of the half. Coughlan took the honors from the corner and found Palumbo with a line drive kick, which Palumbo redirected to Healy on the other side of the goal, where he was open for a one-touch strike, which he deposited in the back of the net. The goal was Healy's first of the season and just the third of his career, but it was his second game-winner as Cardinal.

In the final four minutes, Plattsburgh was able to hold Union shotless, securing the win.

For the Garnet Chargers, Normand picked up the goal, assisted by Marco Perugini, while Paul Agne took the loss in goal making two saves.