By Collin Bolebruch
The 2024 Cardinals are undefeated at home, and their defense ranks among the best in the league. They’ve been ranked nationally. After playing 110 minutes of its best playoff soccer, five kicks decided whether they would advance.
The No. 25 Plattsburgh State Cardinals (11-2-5, 6-2-1) were eliminated in the SUNYAC Quarterfinal by the New Paltz Hawks (9-8-2, 5-3-1), finishing both overtimes in a 2-2 tie, and falling on penalty kicks 3-5 on Nov. 2 at the Field House.
Plattsburgh is undefeated at home and allowed just one regular season goal at the Field House. The Cardinals defeated the Hawks by a score of 1-0 at home Oct. 16.
While the Cardinals have a slight chance at receiving an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament on Monday, head coach Chris Taylor acknowledged it was slim and that the season is likely over.
Senior midfielder John Hayes posted his sixth collegiate brace, assisted by sophomore forward Connor Howe on his second score.
Hayes, who took a season-high nine shots, has an uncanny ability to take over games. Taylor was more than impressed with the performance.
“That was one of the all-time great playoff performances from an individual player,” Taylor said.
Hayes scored the game’s first goal at the 4:43 mark, stealing a pass within the penalty area and getting a shot past two-time All-SUNYAC selection Christian Micheli. The lead was erased just under two minutes later at 1-1.
Neither team recorded a shot for the next 19 minutes, until Plattsburgh senior Teddy Healy made a save to keep it tied.
The Cards made three substitutions of starters from 27:21 to 29:41. Less than a minute after the final sub, New Paltz took the lead.
Entering the locker room at half, Taylor made his message to the team clear: don’t panic, stay composed and don’t chase the game. Players stepped up, requesting bigger roles in the second half.
“I think a lot of them just decided it was time to take responsibility to get us back in the game,” Taylor said.
At 68:17, Howe collected a long crosser, tapped it forward, and Hayes found it in the mess of bodies, putting it in. The Cardinals ran to the sideline, meeting the men’s lacrosse team to celebrate.
“It’s that desperation, knowing that it’s going to be possibly your last game if you don’t come back and win,” Hayes said.
Multiple Plattsburgh teams showed up to support men’s soccer, such as men’s hockey, women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse, men’s basketball and men’s soccer alumni. The crowd of over two hundred created an intense environment for New Paltz to play in.
“I’m so happy that our players got to experience an atmosphere like that,” Taylor said. “We’re obviously grateful to everyone who showed up and made it a special day.”
After finishing regulation 2-2, neither team put up a shot in 20 minutes of overtime.
The game officially ended in a tie, and the winner of penalty kicks advanced in the tournament.
Plattsburgh selected Hayes, senior center back Brian Coughlan, graduate student midfielder Thomas O’Neill, junior midfielder Santiago Vargas, senior forward Modou Badjie and sophomore forward Tristan Laundree to take the kicks.
Cardinal athletes lined the sideline fence on the Field House side, making the place rowdy.
“It makes you feel like the game means more,” O’Neill said.
The Cards and Hawks traded two successful tries, and then New Paltz made its third. O’Neill stepped up for his attempt.
O’Neill spent the previous three seasons with New Paltz, playing 48 games as a Hawk. He knew nearly everyone on the pitch, but no one as well as Micheli — the two played club soccer from fifth grade onward.
O’Neill said it was “extremely weird” to face his old friend. Taylor knew about their relationship, and went forward with O’Neill.
“They knew each other like the back of their hands,” Taylor said. He didn’t watch the kick.
In practice Friday, O’Neill practiced his penalty kick spot. He knew Micheli knew that he liked to go left, so he decided to shoot right.
When it was time to go, he ran up and fired the ball low bottom right, where Micheli was there to save it.
Though Vargas made his, New Paltz scored two to win the game. It’s their first playoff win in 12 years.
“I feel like I made the right decision,” O’Neill said. “I don’t have any regrets.”
The Cardinals returned to the locker room upset, sad and angry. Taylor gave a short pep talk, thanking them for their contributions and telling them he was proud, but acknowledged those moments were one of his “flaws” as a coach.
Taylor spoke with O’Neill, reassuring him the game didn’t come down to that moment.
When he played for the Cardinals, Taylor missed a penalty kick on the same goal to lose the 2009 SUNYAC Championship.
“The fact that the players I love and have done so much for me had to go through that was so painful,” Taylor said.
For Taylor, this season shouldn’t be celebrated as a “dream” year, but rather be used as a standard for what he expects. Playoffs are the minimum.
“Do not pat yourselves on the back for doing what we think we should be doing,” Taylor said. “Unless we’re raising a trophy at the end of the year or an NCAA Tournament game, there’s more to do.”
The team will need its young talent and strong juniors to step up to replicate their success in 2025. Plattsburgh’s senior stars — Hayes, Coughlan, Healy, O’Neill and Badjie — have all likely played their final game.
“It was tough to process,” Hayes said. “All good things come to an end.”
