2026 Roster
2026 Schedule
2025 Statistics

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's lacrosse team kicks off its 2026 campaign on the road, traveling to Alfred State on Saturday, Feb. 21.

The Cardinals finished with a 6-8 (2-5 SUNYAC) record last season, recording their best overall record since 2019. In his second year at the helm, head coach Zach Nedbalski and his team have their eyes set on a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) appearance.

"I'm looking forward to my second season with the team," said Nedbalski. "We will have some new faces getting some great opportunities because of our 13 seniors graduating from last year. We have a younger group this season, but the guys are eager to build as a team and develop. Returning senior captain Kevin Murray and last year's All-SUNYAC junior defender Fynn Whitlock will look to hold down the fort on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, junior Dylan Ruland and sophomore Peter Urso look to continue their success from last year as the top two returning point holders. I'm excited for another year with Cardinal Lacrosse and to start the season Saturday, Feb. 21 at Alfred State College."

Team Outlook

Plattsburgh returns 30 players from last year's roster, headlined by junior defender Fynn Whitlock (Middlebury, Vt. / Middlebury Union), an All-SUNYAC honoree, and junior attacker Dylan Ruland (Medford, N.Y. / Patchogue Medford), the team's leading point and goal scorer. The Cardinals will welcome 13 newcomers, including four transfers, to fill out the 43-man roster.   

Positional Breakdown

Attack:

Ruland and classmate Peter Urso (Bay Shore, N.Y. / Bay Shore) were electric for the Cardinals last season, forming a devastating two-headed offensive attack as Urso makes the move to the attacking unit after playing midfield a year ago. Ruland topped the team in points and goals, recording 40 points and 28 goals, and ranked second in assists with 12. Meanwhile, Urso led the team in assists with 13 and was second in points and goals, posting 33 points and 20 goals.

Jamie Gipe (Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker) also shifts to attack this year and was a solid scoring option for the Cardinals, recording 21 points (15 G, 6A), which all ranked fourth on the team.  

Sophomores Tatum Cipp (Bellport, N.Y. / Bellport) and James Henningsen (North Bellmore, N.Y. / Mepham), and junior Justin Ortiz (Massapequa, N.Y. / Massapequa) all return to the lineup and will look to add production to a dynamic attacking unit.

First-year Matthew Swift (New Rochelle, N.Y. / New Rochelle) is the sole newcomer to an experienced offensive unit.
 
Midfield:

Senior Tim Keenan (Poughquag, N.Y. / Arlington) brings experience to the midfield, while sophomore Ethan Francey (Canton, N.Y. / Canton) will look to follow up a solid first-year campaign. Keenan finished last season with 10 points (7G, 3A), while Francey was right behind him with nine points (8G, 1A).

Sophomore Brayden Shattuck (Queensbury, N.Y. / Queensbury), who played attack last year, also had a solid first year, contributing eight points (5A, 3G).

The Cardinals' midfield will also feature seniors Lucas Longhitano (Lake George, N.Y. / Queensbury) and George Rhatigan (Bethlehem, N.Y. / Bethlehem Central), juniors Jake Gipe (Baldwinsville, N.Y. / Baldwinsville), Matt Nystrom (Glen Cove, N.Y. / Glen Cove), and Dylan Zambito (Kingston, N.Y. / Kingston), and sophomores Steven Fenner (Pequannock, N.J. / Pequannock) and Keith Keiser (Coram, N.Y. / Longwood).

Newcomers include sophomore transfer Matt White (Medford, N.Y. / Patchogue-Medford) from Hartwick and first-years David Backus III (Glen Cove, N.Y. / Glen Cove), Jake Madalone (West Babylon, N.Y. / West Babylon), Myles Marinello (Stillwater, N.Y. / Stillwater), and Connor Wiggins (Whitesboro, N.Y. / Whitesboro).

Long-stick Midfield:

At long-stick midfield, we will see senior Connor Vanella (Holtsville, N.Y. / Sachem East) and sophomore Noah Hilleboe (South Glens Falls, N.Y. / South Glens Falls).

Junior transfer Ryan Fahy (North Massapequa, N.Y. / Plainedge) and sophomore transfer Jacob Solimine (Somers, N.Y. / Somers) round out the long-stick midfield group.

Faceoff Specialist:

The Cardinals bring back two face-off specialists in sophomores Aiden Deegan (New London, N.H. / Kearsarge Regional) and Owen O'Hara (Tappan, N.Y. / Tappan Zee). Deegan controlled 11 faceoffs at a .440 rate, and O'Hara claimed 17 faceoffs at a .386 clip.

The duo is joined by first-year Nick Arcuri (Whitesboro, N.Y. / Whitesboro), who will look to earn in-game opportunities within a young faceoff unit.

Defense:

Whitlock was the Cardinals' lone All-SUNYAC honoree, earning second team honors after leading the conference and team in caused turnovers with 31, while adding a team second-best 50 ground balls. Senior Kevin Murray (Bellmore, N.Y. / Kellenberg Memorial) had a solid season last year, finishing second in caused turnovers with 11 and picking up 24 ground balls.

Other defenders returning for the Cardinals are senior Joe Barcher (Troy, N.Y. / Catholic Central), and sophomores Logan Drake (Montgomery, N.Y. / Valley Central), Lucas Drake (Montgomery, N.Y. / Valley Central), Jack Joyce (Potsdam, N.Y. / Potsdam), and Timmy Wood (Brooklyn, N.Y. / James Madison).

Suiting up for the Cardinals for the first time is junior transfer Nathaniel Freelove (Corning, N.Y. / Corning-Painted Post), who turned in a solid 2025 campaign at Tompkins Cortland Community College with 20 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers.

Rounding out the rest of the defense are first-years Gavin Argyros (Port Jefferson, N.Y. / Earl L. Vandermeulen), Danny Quinn (Rotterdam, N.Y. / Mohonasen), and Cameron Zalinger (Setauket, N.Y. / Ward Melville).

Goalkeeping:

Junior Cole Orehosky (Hauppauge, N.Y. / Hauppauge) led the returning goalies, seeing action in 13 games and starting 11, while posting a solid .474 save percentage.

Senior Jack Mulcahy (Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Arlington) appeared in seven games, boasting a .508 save percentage, and sophomore Gavin McQueeney (Wading River, N.Y. / Shoreham Wading River) saw time in three contests.