2025 Roster
2025 Schedule
2024 Statistics

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Zach Nedbalski begins his first season as head coach of the Plattsburgh State men's lacrosse team when the Cardinals open their 2025 season on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Mount Saint Mary.

"As a first-year head coach with the Cardinals men's lacrosse team, I couldn't be happier with the group of young men I get to coach here," said Nedbalski, "I'm really looking forward to our senior class paving the way and continuing their growth as leaders both on and off the field. We are all looking forward to bringing the birds back to prominence in the SUNYAC one step at a time."

Plattsburgh brings back a veteran group of 30 returners to pair alongside 18 newcomers who will all look to compete for playing time. Key returning pieces for the Cardinals include junior midfielder Tim Keenan (Poughquag, N.Y. / Arlington), sophomore defender Fynn Whitlock (Middlebury, Vt. / Middlebury Union), and senior midfielder Donald Woods (Rocky Point, N.Y. / Rocky Point).

Goalie:

Junior Jack Mulcahy (Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Arlington) saw the most action of the three returning goalies, appearing in five games and boasting a .481 save percentage. Sophomore Zachary Nacheman (Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Saratoga Springs) appeared in one game, while sophomore Cole Orehosky (Hauppauge, N.Y. / Hauppauge) appeared in four games as both will return to the net for Plattsburgh and look to compete for in-game action.

First-year Gavin McQueeney (Wading River, N.Y. / Shoreham Wading River) will round out the goalie group for the Cardinals.

Defense:

The defense was anchored last year by Whitlock, who led the team in ground balls with 55 and caused turnovers with 29, which was fourth in the conference. Graduate student Max Lamitie (Ridge, N.Y. / Longwood) was solid for the Cardinals on defense last year as Lamitie scooped up 21 ground balls and caused seven turnovers.

Other defenders returning for the Cardinals are senior Matt Gannon (Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Arlington), juniors Joe Barcher (Troy, N.Y. / Catholic Central, Kevin Murray (Bellmore, N.Y. / Kellenberg Memorial), and sophomore Matt Nystrom (Glen Cove, N.Y. / Glen Cove).

Newcomers include first-years Logan Drake (Montgomery, N.Y. / Valley Central), Lucas Drake (Montgomery, N.Y. / Valley Central), and Jack Joyce (Potsdam, N.Y. / Potsdam).

Midfield:

Keenan is a key returner for the midfield group as he was second in assists with 17 and had 10 goals on the year. Woods joins the midfield group after playing as an attacker last year, scoring 20 goals, which was second on the team, and dishing out 18 assists, which was first. Senior Ely Bruhns (Clifton Park, N.Y. / Shenendehowa) had a well-rounded season for the Cardinals at midfield, contributing 11 ground balls, nine points, and causing four turnovers.

Seniors Brandon Braithwaite (Roosevelt, N.Y. / Kellenberg Memorial), Matt Palmer (Smithtown, N.Y. / Smithtown West), Logan Vilardi (West Babylon, N.Y. / West Babylon), juniors George Rhatigan (Bethlehem, N.Y. / Bethlehem Central), Lucas Longhitano (Lake George, N.Y. / Queensbury), sophomores Jake Gipe (Baldwinsville, N.Y. / Baldwinsville), Jamie Gipe (Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker), and Dylan Zambito (Kingston, N.Y. / Kingston) will look to make an impact in the midfield for the Cardinals.  

Joining the midfield group this year is sophomore transfer Peter Urso (Bay Shore, N.Y. / Bay Shore), who joins the Cardinals after one season at NCAA Division I Long Island University in 2023-24. Along with sophomore Brandon Jaundoo (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. / Dobbs Ferry), first-years Michael Ahlstedt (Shrub Oak, N.Y. / Lakeland), Ray Cullen (Bardonia, N.Y. / Clarkstown South), Steven Fenner (Pequannock, N.J. / Pequannock), Ethan Francey (Canton, N.Y. / Canton), and Keith Keiser (Coram, N.Y. / Longwood).

At long-stick midfield, we will see senior Kyle Ruland (Medford, N.Y. / Patchogue-Medford), junior Connor Vanella (Holtsville, N.Y. / Sachem East), and first-years Noah Hilleboe (South Glens Falls, N.Y. / South Glens Falls) and Julian Venable (Arlington, Mass. / Arlington). K. Ruland shifts to long-stick midfield after a strong season on defense with 41 ground balls, which was third on the team, and 16 caused turnovers, which was second.

Face-off Specialist:

The Cardinals bring back two face-off specialists in seniors Jab Duval Lapaix (Bronx, N.Y. / Cardinal Hayes) and Jimbo Farrelly (West Nyack, N.Y. / Clarkstown South). Last year, Farrelly led the team with 66 face-off wins for a .413-win percentage, while Duval Lapaix had 58 face-off wins for a .411-win percentage.

First-years Owen O'Hara (Tappan, N.Y. / Tappan Zee) and Aiden Deegan (New London, N.H. / Kearsarge Regional) join an experienced face-off specialist unit.

Attack:

Graduate student Anthony Faber (Farmingdale, N.Y. / Farmingdale) and seniors Mike Walsh (Westchester, N.Y. / Lakeland) and Ryan Weaver (Colonie, N.Y. / Colonie Central) bring veteran experience to the attacking unit. Faber saw the most action of the three upperclassmen recording 11 points that featured nine goals and two assists. 

Sophomores Dylan Irvine (Ogdensburg, N.Y. / Ogdensburg Free Academy), and Justin Ortiz (Massapequa, N.Y. / Massapequa) all return to the lineup and will look to have a productive second season with the Cardinals.

Suiting up for the Cardinals for the first time this year includes sophomore transfer Dylan Ruland (Medford, N.Y. / Patchogue Medford) Ruland who comes from NCAA Division II Pace University, where he played one season in 2023-24 and recorded 15 points with 11 goals and four assists. As well as first-years Tatum Cipp (Bellport, N.Y. / Bellport), James Henningsen (North Bellmore, N.Y. / Mepham), and Brayden Shattuck (Queensbury, N.Y. / Queensbury).

Schedule:

The Plattsburgh State men's lacrosse team 2025 schedule will feature a 15-game slate as announced on Tuesday by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation. Plattsburgh will play eight games at home, opening up their home slate on Mar. 8.

The Cardinals finished 4-12 (0-7 State University of New York Athletic Conference [SUNYAC]) in 2024 and will look to improve in the standings under new head coach Zach Nedbalski.

The Plattsburgh State men's lacrosse team opens its 2025 campaign with three straight road games. First, the team travels to Mount Saint Mary on Feb. 22 for its season opener. Then, the team travels to Norwich on Feb. 26 and Russell Sage on Mar. 1. The Cardinals then play their home opener as they welcome Plymouth State on Mar. 8, followed by another home contest against Clarkson on Mar. 12.

The Cardinals next head to Vermont State University (VTSU) Castleton on Mar. 15 before returning home for a tune-up against New England College on Mar. 26 before opening up SUNYAC play.

SUNYAC play begins on the road for the Cardinals as they head to Oneonta on Mar. 29. The Cardinals begin April with back-to-back SUNYAC home contests hosting Cortland on Apr. 5 before welcoming Canton on Apr. 9. The team next travels to New Paltz on Apr. 12 before a three-game homestand.

The Cardinals will play their final non-conference game against VTSU Lyndon on Apr. 15, followed by their final home SUNYAC contests against Oswego State on Apr. 19 and Potsdam on Apr. 23. Plattsburgh concludes its regular season at Morrisville on Apr. 26.

The top four teams qualify for the SUNYAC tournament as the semi-finals will be played on Apr. 30 at the #1 and #2 seeds and the Championship on May 3 at the highest remaining seed.