Cardinals eye first SUNYAC title since 2013

Plattsburgh State senior Xavier Kamba (11) celebrates with a teammate during a game earlier this season. Kamba leads the Cardinals with nine goals and nine assists for 27 points as Plattsburgh prepares to host Cortland in the SUNYAC championship. — PLATTSBURGH | Top-seeded Plattsburgh State will host second-seeded Cortland in the SUNYAC men’s soccer championship at 1 p.m. at the Plattsburgh State Field House. The Cardinals advanced with a 4-0 semifinal victory over Buffalo State and will seek the program’s ninth SUNYAC championship and first since 2013.

TICKET INFORMATION

Admission to the SUNYAC championship will be free courtesy of Dannemora Federal Credit Union, the official game day sponsor.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Plattsburgh State and Cortland will meet with the conference championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament on the line.

The Cardinals defeated the Red Dragons 2-1 during the regular season, a victory that helped Plattsburgh secure the No. 1 overall seed in the SUNYAC Tournament.

Cortland leads the all-time series 43-23-6, but Plattsburgh will try to defeat the Red Dragons twice in the same season for the first time since 2006.

The teams last met in the SUNYAC Tournament in 2017, when Plattsburgh earned a 3-1 victory to advance to the conference championship game.

INSIDE THE NEST

Plattsburgh State enters the championship game 11-3-3 overall after going 7-0-1 in SUNYAC play and finishing the regular season as the conference’s only unbeaten team.

The Cardinals went 5-1-2 at home during the regular season before opening postseason play with Wednesday’s 4-0 semifinal victory over Buffalo State. Plattsburgh won the SUNYAC East Division and earned a double bye into the semifinals.

The Cardinals have scored 40 goals while averaging 2.35 goals and 15.2 shots per game. Eight Plattsburgh players have scored multiple goals this season.

Senior captain Xavier Kamba leads the Cardinals with nine goals, nine assists and 27 points, including three game-winning goals. Kamba also scored in Plattsburgh’s semifinal victory over Buffalo State.

Tristan Laundree has seven goals and eight assists for 22 points, including two game-winning goals. First-year forward Oliver Filip has three goals and three assists for nine points, while Mason Brown and Ethan Kyle provide additional depth on the wings.

Robbie Kapovic has four goals and two assists for 10 points and provides another option at center forward.

Senior captain Jacob McGowan anchors the midfield and has recorded four goals and one assist for nine points. Fellow senior captain Michael Rodriguez has three goals and one assist for seven points, including two game-winning goals.

Erick Vargas has recorded three assists, while Nicholas Espitia has two goals and two assists. Sebastian Ruiz and Declan Gallagher also provide depth in the midfield. Ruiz scored in the semifinal victory over Buffalo State.

Plattsburgh has allowed 13 goals and is limiting opponents to 10.1 shots per game. Senior Jack Murphy anchors the back line alongside first-year outside backs Esteban Loaiza and Noah Magee and senior center back Davis Lopez.

Senior goalkeeper Matthew D’Ippolito has made 63 saves and owns a 0.82 goals-against average.

Head coach Chris Taylor, in his ninth season, has guided Plattsburgh State to its sixth SUNYAC Tournament appearance during his tenure. The Cardinals are seeking their first conference championship under Taylor and their first overall since 2013.

SCOUTING THE RED DRAGONS

Cortland enters the championship 13-3-1 overall after defeating Oneonta 3-2 in the semifinals.

The Red Dragons went 7-1 in conference play to win the SUNYAC West Division. Cortland has scored 39 goals while allowing nine through its first 17 games.

Graduate student Diego Rivera has 10 goals and five assists for 25 points, including a team-high four game-winning goals. Sophomore Owen Brant has 10 goals and seven assists for 27 points, while senior captain Dylan Pederson has six goals and two assists for 14 points. Sophomore Jake Hutter has added four goals and three assists.

Graduate student goalkeeper Jordan Ott has a 0.54 goals-against average and an .816 save percentage. Cortland has recorded 11 shutouts, with Pederson and senior Christian Napolitano helping lead the back line.

Head coach Steve Axtell is in his 14th season at Cortland. The Red Dragons are seeking their fifth SUNYAC championship under Axtell and third in the last four seasons.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The winner will capture the SUNYAC championship and receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Cardinals eye first SUNYAC title since 2013

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