PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's soccer team turned in a dominant and balanced effort, downing Manhattanville in their season opener 5-0. The Cards had five different goal scorers, led by Xavier Kamba (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Nyack) who tallied a goal and two assists in the second game of the Northwestern Mutual Cardinal Classic.

Kamba scored the first goal of the season at the 3:26 mark of action, giving the Cards a lead they would not relinquish. Modou Badjie (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) added a first-half goal, while John Hayes (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River), Tristan Laundree (Keeseville, N.Y./AuSable Valley), and Brian Coughlan (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) each tallied second-half scores. Teddy Healy (Amityville, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) earned the win in goal, making one save for the shutout win.

The Cards move to 1-0 on the year with the win and will take on Baruch in the final game of the Northwestern Mutual Cardinal Classic at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. Manhattanville moves to 0-1 with the loss and will play Potsdam at 2 p.m. on Saturday as well. Potsdam took the win in the opening game of the classic, defeating Baruch 3-0.

Plattsburgh State was able to control the game against the Valiants throughout, picking up the early lead and not allowing the opposition to gain any momentum. Kamba gave the Cards the lead soon after the game action began, as Badjie evaded a slew of defenders, drawing more and leaving Kamba open on the left side of the box for an easy finish with his left foot.

Badjie would later pick up a goal to add to the assist he tallied in the game's early action, scoring at the 17:24 mark of action. A turnover by Manhattanville allowed Hayes to work into open space moving toward the box, where the senior midfielder was able to find Badjie all alone in front of the goalie for an easy score off his left foot.

The 2-0 score would hold into halftime, as Plattsburgh was up 11-3 in shots after 45 minutes of action.

Heading into the second half, Manhattanville was able to better limit the Cardinal offense, holding them to just five shots, but Plattsburgh was able to take advantage of their limited opportunities to add three goals in the second stanza.

Hayes got the second-half scoring started at the 58:57 mark of action on a strong pass from Kamba, as he evaded Manhattanville's pressure to set up the Cardinal offense in the box. The sophomore forward found Hayes with a chipped pass just outside the goal box for an easy header and finish for the 6'1" senior. 

Kamba added another assist late in the second half when the Cardinals got their fourth goal, as he found Laundree streaking ahead of the Valiants in transition for another easy score. Coughlan tallied the final score of the day with less than a minute to go, connecting on his fifth career penalty kick to move him to a perfect 5-5 on penalty attempts in his Plattsburgh State career.

For Manhattanville, Jake Rothluebbers took the loss in goal, making four saves, while Lucas Fernandez put the only shot on goal.