PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – While the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team nearly scored on a corner kick late in the second overtime period, the Cardinals settled for a 0-0 tie with visiting Fredonia after 110 minutes of scoreless play in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action at the Field House Complex Saturday on Senior Day.
Senior defender
Elver Maldonado (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) sent in a corner with less than 30 seconds left, and his service found sophomore midfielder
Connor Nembach (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) waiting at the far post. Nembach put his head on the ball and sent a shot rocketing toward the right side of the goal. Fredonia's sophomore goalkeeper Ty Bentham dove and punched the ball away, setting up another Cardinal corner with 11 seconds left. Plattsburgh State was unable to generate a scoring opportunity with time winding down, and the two teams settled for a scoreless stalemate.
Plattsburgh State moves to 9-5-1 overall (3-3-1 SUNYAC) with the result and next visits The College at Brockport on Friday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. Fredonia moves to 8-5-2 overall (2-3-2 SUNYAC) with the tie and hosts SUNY New Paltz next on Friday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m.
Fredonia had its chances to end the game in overtime, too, with perhaps its best opportunity coming with 51 seconds left in the first overtime period. A Plattsburgh State defender tried to clear a ball away from the midfield, but it deflected off Fredonia's senior forward Ryan Ross, who was able to chase it down into the Blue Devils' attacking third ahead of the defense. With Ross facing sophomore goalkeeper
Patrick Feeley (Harriman, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) for a one-on-one opportunity, he sent the ball on the ground wide of the right post.
Feeley came up with a big save in the latter stages of the second overtime period, getting his fingertips on a Blue Devil shot to send the attempt over the crossbar. The Cardinals were then able to draw a foul on the ensuing corner kick attempt, which set up Plattsburgh State's possession that nearly produced the game-winner.
Offensively, junior forward
Chris Robertson (Thiells, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional [N.J.]) led the way with six shots, two of which were on frame. Fredonia's sophomore midfielder Matt Belardi took a team-high three shots, testing Feeley on two of those scoring chances.
Feeley made four saves in the clean-sheet result for the Cardinals, while his counterpart, Bentham, made eight saves in the shutout decision.
Prior to the start of the game, the Cardinals honored their nine seniors: goalkeeper
Andrew LaClaustra (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun), defenders
Bryan Kilpatrick (Endicott, N.Y./Endicott),
Jah-heem Lawitz (Albany, N.Y./Albany),
Juan Rodriguez (Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown North) and Maldonado, midfielders
Ian Spear (Peru, N.Y./Peru),
Sean Maruscsak (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) and
Max Delavalle (Rock Tavern, N.Y./Washingtonville) and forward
Nicholas Laurent (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South).