CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's soccer team sustained their first loss of the 2024 season, falling to No. 14 ranked Cortland Red Dragons 4-0 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action.

The Cardinals had a consistent offensive attack over the 90 minutes of action registering six shots in each half as John Hayes (Pearl River, N.Y. / Pearl River) led the charge with three shots. Connor Howe (Hopewell Junction, N.Y. / John-Jay-east Fishkill) and Jack Murphy (Blauvelt, N.Y. / Tappan Zee) both registered two shots each putting one on goal. Teddy Healy (Amityville, N.Y. / Kellenberg Memorial) took the loss in net making three saves.

The Cardinals outshot the Red Dragons 12-11 but only had five shots on goal compared to the Red Dragons seven. The Cardinals also earned more corner kicks with six to the Red Dragons' three.

Plattsburgh State moves to 6-1-3 (1-1-1 SUNYAC) with the loss and next hosts Oneonta on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. No. 14 Cortland moves to 7-2-3 (1-1-1 SUNYAC) with the win and next plays Williams on Sunday, Oct. 6.

The Red Dragons started the game action with two quick corner kicks in the first five minutes that the Cardinals' defense turned away. It wasn't until the 17^th minute that the Red Dragons threatened to score after Jack Pinnata sent a shot to the bottom right that Healy saved, keeping the score knotted at 0.

Back-to-back shots by Hayes in the 18^th and 19^th minute gave the Cardinals an opportunity to net the first goal of the game but an off-target shot, and a save from the Cortland goalie kept the Cardinals off the board.

In the 28^th minute, Cortland was able to put one past Healy off the foot of Muiz Bayewu assisted by Yasin Choukri and Sam LeMendola. The Cardinals were knocking on the door in the 39^th minute as Murphy and Howe both put shots on goal that were turned away by the Cortland keeper. With just over a few minutes remaining the Red Dragons tacked on a late goal in the 43^rd minute and went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, the Cardinals' offense kept threatening registering a shot just seconds into the second stanza. The Cardinals didn't allow a Cortland shot until the 65^th minute followed by a goal from Matt Shultz in the 67^th minute that extended the Red Dragons' lead to 3-0. The Cardinals had an opportunity to respond in the 73^rd minute as Aaron Cohen (Bloomingbug, N.Y. / Pine Bush) ripped a shot that was saved by the Cortland goalie.

Shortly after Cortland added another goal in the 76^th minute and their defense held the Cardinals to one shot in the last 15 minutes of action.

Luke van Galen recorded five saves for Cortland earning the shutout, while Shultz had two goals to lead the offense. Choukri and Jordan Miller both tallied two assists.