PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The fourth-seeded Plattsburgh State women's soccer team punched its ticket to the semifinal round of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Field House Soccer Complex, as the Cardinals defeated fifth-seeded Oswego State, 2-0, in a SUNYAC Tournament first-round contest.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 11-8-0 overall with the win and faces top-seeded Buffalo State in the semifinal round on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. in Buffalo, N.Y. Oswego finishes its season at 7-6-4 overall.
 
Senior midfielder Ashlie Guinness (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) put the Cardinals on the board early, as she scored in the fifth minute. Senior forward Anissa Hartmann (Fairfax, Vt./BFA Fairfax) played in the ball on a corner kick from the left side, and Guinness slotted the ball inside the right post to give the Cardinals the early 1-0 lead. That score stood up through halftime, as Plattsburgh State held a 7-3 advantage in shots in the opening stanza.
 
The Cardinals began peppering the Laker defense with shots in the second half, forcing Oswego's senior goalkeeper Melissa Siegfried into action several times. Plattsburgh State put the game on ice with an insurance goal in the 75th minute, as junior midfielder Madeline Saccocio (Schenectady, N.Y./Schalmont) cashed in on a pass from freshman midfielder Rachael Moran (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington), uncorking a shot from the top of the 18-yard box.
 
Plattsburgh State finished with an 18-7 edge in shots and a 7-5 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Saccocio ignited the Cardinal attack with seven shots (three on goal), while senior midfielder Lindsay Jones and junior midfielder Emma Geyer each took two shots for the Lakers.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Nichole Gibson (Arkport, N.Y./Arkport) earned her third shutout of the season, making four saves in the victory for Plattsburgh State, while Siegfried made five stops for Oswego in the loss.