PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's soccer team enters the 2026 season following a successful 2025 campaign that saw the Cardinals reach the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship and finish with a 10-7-2 overall record and a 6-1-2 mark in conference play. The Cardinals will open the 2026 season against VTSU-Castleton at home on September 1. 

2025 CARDINAL SNAPSHOT:
Record: 10-7-2 (6-1-2 SUNYAC)

The Cardinals concluded the 2025 campaign with a 10-7-2 overall mark and a 6-1-2 record in conference play. Plattsburgh State earned the No. 2 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament and hosted Fredonia in the semifinals, earning a 2-1 victory to advance to the conference championship game. The Cardinals' postseason run came to an end in the SUNYAC Championship, falling to Cortland, 3-2.

Plattsburgh State earned six All-SUNYAC selections following the 2025 campaign. Sydney Myers earned First Team All-SUNYAC honors, was named the SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Year and received Second Team All-Region recognition. Lia Parker, Desiree DuBois, Mariah Nowicki and Alana DeLaCruz each earned Second Team All-SUNYAC honors, while Kelly Licata was named to the Third Team. Licata has since graduated, while Myers, Parker, DuBois, Nowicki and DeLaCruz return for the 2026 season.

Coach's Insights:
"We are very excited to continue to grow throughout the 2026 season and continue to build upon the foundation of the program. With a lot of returning players as well as some new talent coming in, we are excited to see what we can achieve in both non-conference and in the SUNYAC. Our goals are always one game at a time, so we look forward to our home opener on September 1 to start our 2026 season," said head coach Whitney Frary.

Player Insights:
"I'm looking forward to being back on the field. Not only for one last great season as a senior, but to be able to do it with the people that make Plattsburgh so special to me. Our goals are clear, and we're all ready to crush it this season," said senior Lia Parker.

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

Plattsburgh State returns 28 players from last season's roster and welcomes six newcomers, including one transfer. 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 attacking contributors, led by junior Bailee Lafountain (Mooers Forks, N.Y./Northeastern Clinton), who finished the 2025 season with three goals and two assists for eight points. Sophomore Alana DeLaCruz (Albany, N.Y./Shaker) also returns after earning Second Team All-SUNYAC honors and scoring five goals and adding one assist for 11 points last season, providing another key offensive option for the Cardinals.

Seniors Lilley Keyser (Keeseville, N.Y./AuSable Valley), Ellie Graney (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors) and Maria Mauro (Farmingdale, N.Y./Plainedge) also return to the forward group, along with junior Jenna McDonald (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) and sophomore Lauren Marotta (Fonda, N.Y./Fonda-Fultonville). The Cardinals add Division I transfer Kyra Whitman (Stafford, Texas/Fort Bend Christian Academy) from Merrimack College, while first-years Faith Zylinksy (Westernville, N.Y./Holland Patent), Amaya Abellard (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) and Brynn Hite (Rouses Point, N.Y./Northeastern Clinton) provide additional depth to the attack.

Midfield

The midfield unit will be led by senior Sydney Myers (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Saranac), who returns after a standout 2025 campaign in which she earned First Team All-SUNYAC honors, was named SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Year and received Second Team All-Region recognition. Myers led the Cardinals with 11 goals and five assists for 27 points and will be a key presence in the center of the field.

Sophomore Jadyn Baker (Syracuse, N.Y./Marcellus) also returns to the midfield after recording one goal and one assist for three points last season, while junior Leah Warren (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) scored two goals and added one assist for five points. Sophomores Olivia Stallone (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East), Kamryn Bezio (Keeseville, N.Y./AuSable Valley), Addison Shultis (Duanesburg, N.Y./Schalmont) and Brianna Merril (Wallkill, N.Y./Wallkill Senior), along with first-year Claire Reynolds (Westport, N.Y./Boquet Valley CSD), add depth and versatility to the midfield group.

Defenders

The Cardinals return a strong group along the back line, led by senior Lia Parker (Cadyville, N.Y./Saranac), who started 15 games and logged 1,249 minutes last season while recording one assist. Parker enters the 2026 season after earning Second Team All-SUNYAC recognition in 2025.

Sophomore Mariah Nowicki (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) also returns after starting 13 games and totaling 1,255 minutes last season, earning Second Team All-SUNYAC honors as a first-year. Senior Anni Schneider (Latham, N.Y./Shaker), juniors Amy Crowley (Wallkill, N.Y./Wallkill) and Grace Reeve (Voorheesville, N.Y./Clayton A. Bouton), sophomores Sophie Miller (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown), Ireland McGowan (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) and Lindsey Marotta (Fonda, N.Y./Fonda-Fultonville) also return to the defensive unit. Fifth-year Alexis Patrick (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) adds another experienced option to the back line, while first-year Emily Bednarczyk (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) provides additional depth.

Goalkeepers
The Cardinals return a group of experienced goalkeepers led by junior Desiree DuBois (Champlain, N.Y./Northeastern Clinton Central), who earned Second Team All-SUNYAC honors after posting a 0.74 goals-against average and a .810 save percentage during the 2025 campaign.

Senior Brook Lynn DaSilva (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) and senior Lily Bailey (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) also return with collegiate experience in goal, while sophomore Sophia Vandemark (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) adds another option to the goalkeeper group. The Cardinals will look to the experienced unit to provide stability between the posts throughout the 2026 season.