PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.—SUNY Plattsburgh (14-3-3) scored two second half goals to defeat the SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (10-8-1) 2-0 in the SUNYAC Quarterfinals on Saturday night. The Cardinals will now advance to face top-seeded Oneonta on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Plattsburgh controlled the play territorially in the first half and the Bears struggled to get going offensively. The Cardinals took nine shots in the opening 45 minutes, but tough Potsdam defense allowed only three through to senior goalkeeper Jesse Kohler (Middletown, N.Y./Tompkins-Cortland C.C.) and he handled each one. The contest was scoreless at the break.
 
Plattsburgh finally got on the board in the 65th minute as the SUNYAC's top scorer Alexis Archilla buried his 17th of the year. The Bears answered with good energy, but were unable to break the Cardinal's defense. At 81:25, Nicholas Laurent scored on a long shot to give Plattsburgh all the insurance it would need.
 
Kohler finished with seven saves, while Mitchell Jordon stopped two shots to earn the shutout.  
 
The loss brings an end to the careers for seniors Kohler, midfielder Mario Riccardi (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon), captain Ben Firlit (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls), forward Stephen Auyer (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego), midfielder Patrick Mylod (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa), captain Tom Benedetto (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury), midfielder Johnny Zator (Lido Beach, N.Y./Long Beach), defender Andrew Doody (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac), midfielder Kyle Cronin (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta), defender Alex Griffith (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta), defender James Turcott (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) and forward Rondely Rawlins (Brooklyn, N.Y./Erasmus Hall). The Class of 2016 has won 32 games in their careers, the most of any class in Potsdam soccer history.