Plattsburg State Blanks Fitchburg State, 2-0

Hanratty stops nine shots for Falcons in 2014 season opener

PLATTSBURG, N.Y. (August 29, 2014) – The Fitchburg State men's soccer team opened the 2014 season this evening, falling to Plattsburg State, 2-0 in game two of the 2014 Best Western-Ground Round Cardinal Classic Men's Soccer Tournament hosted by Plattsburg State.

Plattsburg State opened the scoring at the 30:18 mark of the first half as sophomore Alexis Archilla (Warwick, N.Y) settled a pass at the top of the box from junior Ethan Votrow (Plattsburg, N.Y.) and fired a shot inside the far post for 1-0 margin.

The Cardinals nearly doubled their lead with just over one minute remaining in the stanza as sophomore Chris Bowden (Commack, N.Y.) and newcomer Ian Spear (Peru, N.Y.) both had shots on target, but Falcon goalkeeper Aidan Hanratty (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) was able to turn aside both scoring chances to keep the score 1-0 going into the break.

Following intermission, the hosts upped its margin (2-0) in the 52^nd minute of play when Spear took a feed from Archilla and blasted shot that deflected off the far post and into the net for his first collegiate tally.

Fitchburg State's best scoring opportunity came at the 77:17 mark as sophomore Simon Vikoler (Chiusa, Italy) found classmate Jared Burns (E. Bridgewater) in front of the net, but Plattsburg State goaltender Mitchell Jordon (Bolton Landing, N.Y.) made an outstanding outstretched save, resulting in the 2-0 final.

Throughout the contest, the Cardinals outshot Fitchburg State, 24-2 while also posting a 9-1 margin in corner kicks. In net, Hanratty finished with nine saves the Falcons, while Jordon stopped two shots in the victory for Plattsburg State.

Fitchburg State will face Potsdam State tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. in game three of the tournament, while Plattsburg State will take on Misericordia University in the fourth game at 3:30 p.m.