PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's soccer team defeated No. 20 Oneonta on Wednesday evening, taking down their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) foe 2-0. The win over the Red Dragons was the first since 2015 for Plattsburgh State, and the first in the career of head coach Chris Taylor.

Oneonta is ranked No. 20 in the most current United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division III National Poll.

Brian Coughlan (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) notched the game-winner in the 77^th minute and Modou Badjie (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) followed with the game-sealing score in the 79^th minute, just under two minutes later. Jake McGowan (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) and Santiago Vargas (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) each picked up assists, with McGowan's being the first point of his collegiate career. Teddy Healy (Amityville, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) picked up his fourth shutout of the season, making four saves to move to 7-1-3.

In a very close game, the Red Dragons outshot the Cardinals 13-12, but the Cards put five shots on goal to Oneonta's four. On corners, the Red Dragons took the advantage as well, earning seven to Plattsburgh's six.

The Cardinals improve to 7-1-3 (2-1-1 SUNYAC) and next head to Buffalo State on Saturday, Oct. 12 for a big SUNYAC matchup against the unbeaten Bengals. Oneonta falls to 7-2-3 (3-1 SUNYAC) and next heads to Morrisville for a road match with the Mustangs on Saturday, Oct. 12.

The first half saw Plattsburgh start with a fantastic opportunity, earning a corner kick 25 seconds in, which resulted in a John Hayes' (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) header missing off the top woodwork. The Cards were able to put two shots on goal in the ensuing five minutes, getting plenty of opportunities early. The Red Dragons had some good chances early as well as Luigi Prosperi had a shot go off the woodwork in the 15^th minute, followed by a corner and a blocked Prosperi shot. At halftime, the score was dead even at zero, as well as shots, with both teams taking seven.

In the second half, Oneonta nearly had an early goal from Owen Siegel as his shot from the left-hand side of the box was saved by Healy in the 53^rd minute to keep the game deadlocked at zero. It seemed the Red Dragons were starting to take control soon after as they had three corner kicks and Siegel put another shot on goal that Healy was able to turn away.

In the 76^th minute, a foul on Oneonta resulted in a free kick that was quickly played from Coughlan to McGowan back into play. After a couple of dribbles forward, Coughlan was left unmarked as he headed to the left corner of the top of the 18-yard box, getting the ball back from McGowan. The senior center back then hit the ball with a strong strike off his left foot that was heading right for Badjie, but the senior forward smartly moved out of the way at the last second, essentially screening the Oneonta defenders and goalie, and the ball found the far corner of the net for the goal.

With a 1-0 lead and all the momentum with the Cards, the team quickly gave themselves another opportunity as Vargas and Badjie produced a goal. Vargas was able to find his counterpart with a fantastic pass into the box where Badjie beat his defender left and uncorked a shot with his left foot into the back of the net for the score.

The Cardinals took the 2-0 lead through the final 10-plus minutes, holding the Red Dragons to just two shots to seal their first win over their SUNYAC rival in nearly a decade.

AJ Lucas took the loss in net for Oneonta, making three saves in 90 minutes.