SCHENECTADY — John Hayes posted his fourth career brace, leading the No. 16 Plattsburgh State men’s soccer team to a 2-1 road win over the Union Garnet Chargers. Hayes, who now has six goals on the year, is already three points and one goal off his career-highs in each category just six games into his senior season.
The Plattsburgh State Cardinals are currently the No. 16 in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division III Poll.
Teddy Healy earned the win in goal and made a game-saving penalty kick stop at the 87:58 mark, keeping the Cardinals ahead 2-1. Brian Coughlan added the assist on the game-winner while Bradyn Primus added a helper as well.
The statistical battle was even across the board, as the Cardinals outshot the Garnet Chargers 8-6, including 5-4 on goal. Union was able to generate more corners, especially down the stretch as they tried to find the equalizer, earning nine corners to Plattsburgh’s five.
The Cardinals move to 4-0-2 on the season and have a home match next on the schedule, hosting RPI on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. before opening conference play at home next weekend. Union falls to 2-3-1 and next takes on Williams on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Hayes got the team on the board and out in front in the 37th minute, using a Primus pass from the center of the field to take him across the top of the 18 and to the arc, where he fired a low shot in the left side of the net for the goal.
Shortly after, however, the Garnet Chargers found the equalizer from Owen Everett and tied the game with just over five minutes to go in the first half.
The tie held through halftime and shortly into the second half before a free kick for the Cardinals from just outside the Union defensive third was taken by Coughlan. The senior centerback sent in a line drive pass that found Hayes inside the six for the header and score.
With just under two minutes to go, Plattsburgh State did not allow Union to get another look at the goal, securing their fourth win of the season.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — A top 20 finish from Grace Estus propelled Plattsburgh State women’s cross country to a second-place finish with 59 points at the Aldrich Invitational at Middlebury. Estus recorded a mark of 26:30.2 as she was the first Cardinal across the line placing 19th.
The Cardinals took home a second-place finish behind hosts Middlebury whose top seven finished in the top seven spots. Plattsburgh beat out Clarkson who scored 79 points and VTSU-Castleton who scored 98. The Cardinals will next race at the Ronald C. Hoffmann Invitational on Sep. 21 at 11 a.m.
Sarah Smith and Ella Stuttard placed 21st and 23rd respectively posting marks of 26:38.2 and 26:46.7. Lexie Rostak was right behind Stuttard in 24th place with a 26:52.8 mark while Isabelle Cunningham rounded out the scoring group for the Cardinals with a 28th place finish and a time of 27:25.6.
Lillian Moran and Ginny Lucchetti rounded out the Cardinals’ top seven with times of 27:42.9 and 30:21.4.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Michael Brockway placed sixth at the Aldrich Invitational and led Plattsburgh State men’s cross country to a third-place finish with 66 points. Brockway was the first Cardinal across the line with a 27:26.7 mark.
The Cardinals finished behind Middlebury who had the top-five finishes and Clarkson who had three runners in the top-ten. VTSU-Castleton, Albany College, and Vermont State Randolph finished in 4th, 5th, and 6th respectively. The Cardinals will next race at the Ronald C. Hoffmann Invitational on Sep. 21 at 12 p.m.
Graham Richard was right outside the top ten as he finished in 12th place with a mark of 28:33.3. Sam Faga was the next runner across for the Cardinals with a time of 28:50.9 in his first collegiate 8K race for a 15th place finish. Justin Kumrow and Erik Kucera were the number four and five runners across for the Cardinals finishing in 19th (29:11.6) and 28th (30:21.3) scoring points for the Cardinals.
Peter Basile and Brody Olden rounded out the Cardinals’ top seven hitting marks of 30:30.1 and 30:48.8 respectively.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
NEWBURGH — The Plattsburgh State women’s tennis team dominated on Sunday morning, winning a 7-0 match against Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York. The Cardinals lost just one set on the day, winning each doubles match and winning each singles match in two sets.
The Cardinals move to 3-1 on the young season and head to VTSU-Castleton in their next matchup for another non-conference match on Friday.
Plattsburgh State had everything going their way from the start, as Megan Phelps and Sophia Gottschall earned the win at No. 3 doubles, 6-3, to start the day. The win was closely followed by a victory from Ava Carey and Jacklin Mitchell at No. 1 doubles, 6-3. Even with the doubles point already clinched, that didn’t stop Hallie Hurwitz and Kristy Cantwell from overcoming a 4-0 deficit to win their match 6-4.
With the point earned in doubles, Gottschall and Cantwell both quickly won in singles, 6-1,6-1, putting the Cards ahead 3-0. Carey then clinched the win with a victory at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-3 over Victoria Valencia. Mitchell secured the win at No. 3 singles, winning a tiebreaker in the first set to win 7-6 (7-1), 6-1, and that was followed by a Phelps win at No. 6 singles, as she also won a tiebreaker in a marathon first set, eventually winning 7-6 (12-10), 6-2. Hurwitz gave the Cards their ninth and final win of the day, winning in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 12-10.
Volleyball
CASTLETON, Vt. — The Plattsburgh State women’s volleyball team falls on the road at Vermont State University (VTSU) Castleton, falling to VTSU-Castleton 3-2 (25-19, 25-19, 25-17, 25-23, 15-11) in a five-set thriller and 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 25-13) to SUNY Delhi to cap off their day.
Plattsburgh moves to 0-8 overall and next hosts Norwich for a match on Tuesday, Sep. 17 at 6 p.m. VTSU-Castleton moves to 5-2 and SUNY Delhi moves to 3-6 and will play each other later today.
VTSU-Castleton 3, Plattsburgh
The Cardinals had 15 service aces on the day while the Spartans had 11. The Spartans had a slight edge in digs 69-67 and won the block battle 3-0.
Sophomore outside hitter Liya Girma led the Cardinals in points with 19 registering 17 kills and two services aces. Girma also tallied 15 digs that led all players for her third double-double of the season. Sophomore right-side hitter Darby Collyear contributed to the offensive game with 11 points on nine kills and two service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist KC Burke registered 13 digs while first-year setter Anabella Almeida had a career-high 16 assists and junior setter Kyleigh Ganz had 15.
For the Spartans, Hailey Martinovich led all players with 21.5 points. Alondra Rojas led all players in assists with 31 and the Spartans in digs with 13 for a double-double on the day.
SUNY Delhi 3, Plattsburgh 0
The Broncos had 10 service aces to the Cardinals’ six and also won the block battle 5-1. The Broncos had a slight edge in digs 59-55.
Mulvey led the Cardinals in points with nine off of eight kills and one service ace. Girma led the team in digs with 14 followed by Bridget Ryan with 13. Almeida had another double-digit assist day with 12 while Ganz contributed with nine. Darby Collyear and Katie Salphine both recorded a block assist.
For the Broncos, Madelyn Diep led the team in points with 10 and digs with 14. Michaella DeCapua led all players in assists with 15 and also had 10 digs for a double-double.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The Plattsburgh State women’s soccer team was able to hold a strong RIT offense to just one goal over 90 minutes but were unable to find the back of the net as they dropped a 1-0 contest to the Tigers. Elena Onodera scored the lone goal for RIT, as she tallied the score just under six minutes into the second half.
Lauren Haley was excellent once again for Plattsburgh in goal, saving eight shots to hold the Tigers to just one goal. During the game, Haley also surpassed the mark of 150 saves for her career.
The Cardinals were only able to manage one shot, while RIT tallied 19, including nine shots on goal. The Tigers also earned eight corner kicks, while the Cards had zero over 90 minutes of action.
Plattsburgh State falls to 1-4 on the season and hosts Clarkson on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. before opening conference play next weekend. RIT improves to 3-0-2 and will host Wooster on Saturday, Sept. 21 in their next match.
Onodera opened the second half with her score, giving the Tigers the lead after a strong pass from Roberta Moger from deep in the RIT defensive zone. With the lead, the Tiger’s defense was able to settle in and stop several chances for Plattsburgh from even developing, as they were able to secure the 1-0 victory.