PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's soccer team enters the 2026 season looking to build on a strong 2025 campaign that saw the Cardinals finish with a 10-3-5 overall record and a 5-2-2 mark in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play. The Cardinals will open the 2026 season against St. Lawrence on the road on September 1.

2025 CARDINAL SNAPSHOT:
Record: 10-3-5 (5-2-2 SUNYAC)

The Cardinals concluded the 2025 campaign with a 10-3-5 overall mark and a 5-2-2 record in conference play. Plattsburgh State earned the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament and hosted Fredonia in the first round, ultimately falling, 1-0, in a closely contested postseason matchup.

Plattsburgh State also extended its unbeaten streak in nonconference play to three consecutive seasons during the 2025 campaign, continuing a strong run of success against opponents outside of SUNYAC play.

Plattsburgh State earned four All-SUNYAC selections following the 2025 campaign. Seniors Santiago Vargas and Randall Ashong earned First Team All-SUNYAC honors, while junior Tristan Laundree was named to the Second Team and sophomore Matthew D'Ippolito earned Third Team recognition. Ashong was also selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Fourth Team. Vargas and Ashong have since graduated, leaving the Cardinals to replace two of their top postseason honorees, with Laundree and D'Ippolito returning for the 2026 season.

Coach's Insights:
"We had a very strong spring season, which saw a lot of young players develop and find their roles within the team. We are looking to use that as a springboard into this fall as we welcome an exciting group of newcomers. We have a nice mix of returners and newcomers, but we will have to work hard to find the right balance and chemistry across the pitch. We will be relying on the experienced returners to guide the group through the early part of the season as we navigate a tough non-conference schedule that will prepare us for SUNYAC play," said head coach Chris Taylor.

Player Insights:
"I'm looking forward to being back on the field with the guys and seeing what we can accomplish. We have a lot of players returning, and I think what makes this team special is how motivated everyone is and how much we expect from each other," said senior captain Xavier Kamba. 

Team Outlook:
The Cardinals enter the 2026 season with a mix of experienced returners and emerging talent. Plattsburgh State will look to build on last season's 10-win campaign while replacing several key contributors from its 2025 roster.

Plattsburgh State returns 18 players from last season's roster and welcomes 10 newcomers, including four transfers. The combination of returning experience and new talent gives the Cardinals added depth and competition as they prepare for the 2026 campaign.

Inside the Nest:

Forwards
The Cardinals return several key attacking contributors, including seniors Tristan Laundree (Keeseville, N.Y./AuSable Valley) and Xavier Kamba (Nyack, N.Y./Nyack). Laundree returns after earning Second Team All-SUNYAC honors in 2025, recording three goals and four assists for 10 points, while Kamba scored five goals and added one assist for 11 points last season.

Senior Gabriel Moscheni (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook), junior Ryan Shalvey (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee) and sophomores Robbie Kapovic (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East), Rocco Ruscitto (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) and Mason Brown (Cadyville, N.Y./Saranac) also return to the forward group, providing additional depth and experience. Kapovic finished with two goals and four assists for eight points last season, while Ruscitto added three goals. First-year forwards Ethan Kyle (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) and Oliver Filip join the unit, while transfer Andrew Foster (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) adds another experienced option to the attack after previously playing at SUNY Ulster.

Midfield
The midfield unit will be led by senior Jake McGowan (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley), who logged 1,234 minutes of action last season and finished with two goals and one assist for five points. McGowan brings experience and composure to the center of the field and will play a key role in helping the Cardinals control possession and dictate tempo.

Seniors Davis Lopez (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood) and Michael Rodriguez (Jefferson Valley, N.Y./Lakeland) also return to the midfield, along with sophomores Declan Gallagher (LaGrangeville, N.Y./Arlington) and Nicholas Espitia (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood). Gallagher scored three goals and added one assist for seven points last season, while the Cardinals add senior transfer Erick Vargas, who joins the program from Felician University and brings additional experience and depth to the midfield group.

Defenders
The Cardinals will feature a new-look defensive unit in 2026, led by junior Jack Murphy (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee), who has logged more than 1,000 minutes in each of his first two collegiate seasons. Murphy brings valuable experience to the back line and will be counted on to anchor the defensive group.

Senior Florian Fuchs (Willstaett, Germany) returns to the defense, while sophomores Aidan Morales (Queens, N.Y./Queens Metropolitan) and Paolo Rogliano (Eastchester, N.Y./Iona Preparatory) join the Cardinals as  transfers from Pace University. Sophomore Sebastian Ruiz (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood) will make the move from midfield to defense, while sophomore Jack Egan (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) also returns to the defensive unit. The Cardinals add first-year defenders Esteban Loaiza (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood), Charles McCarren (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial), Noah Magee (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) and Tama Tandia (Bronx, N.Y./Adlai E. Stevenson), giving the team additional options along the back line.

Goalkeepers
The Cardinals return two goalkeepers with collegiate experience in junior Matthew D'Ippolito (Baldwin Place, N.Y./Somers) and sophomore Logan Verissimo (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon Senior), while first-year goalkeeper Ronald Washington (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) joins the group.

D'Ippolito enters the 2026 season following a strong sophomore campaign in which he earned Third Team All-SUNYAC honors. He posted a 0.79 goals-against average and a .781 save percentage, providing a strong presence in goal for the Cardinals.

Verissimo also returns after gaining experience during his first collegiate season, while Washington adds another option to the goalkeeper group.