Plattsburgh State men’s soccer has been on a mission this past month in its quest for a SUNYAC Championship. In order to achieve this incredible goal, the Cards must be at the top of their game at all times. Fortunately, they have the likes of Ethan Votraw to lead the way.
With an immense stature of 6-1, Votraw is the most likely candidate to lead the Cards in the right direction this postseason. However, the senior midfielder has been making a big impact on the field ever since he first touched a ball.
To view more videos, visit our Multimedia page.The Plattsburgh native began playing for various travel teams around the area as he slowly made a name for himself as an elite player. It was at this point that Votraw realized he had the potential to play for the college team he had known his whole life.“When it came to making a decision, Plattsburgh just made sense,” Votraw said. “It’s close to home, I’m familiar with the area and my family can see all my games.”
Not only has his family been able to see all of his games, but they have had the pleasure of watching him become a dominant presence on the field. His height allows him to be a crucial component of corner kicks for the Cards. This is an aspect of Votraw’s game that senior goalkeeper, Mitchell Jordon feels is crucial to the team’s success.
“He’s a big presence in there,” Jordon said. “It’s nice to know that you have the tallest guy out there on your side.”
Height isn’t the only that is a standout feature of this athlete.
Although soccer is his primary sport, Vortraw also has a deep passion for the game of golf. He has been playing it for a time tantamount to the time that he has been playing soccer.
However, this is not just a hobby to the soccer star. In fact, he was invited to the New York State Amateur Golf Championship. This is a highly distinguished competition that has been held in the state of New York dating all the way back to 1923. Despite not winning the tournament, Votraw believes this was a great experience, especially for how competitive he is.
The competitive edge is still there for Votraw, and it does not look like it is going to fade any time soon. The Cards look to win the remainder of their three games, which will hopefully set them up for a solid position in the SUNYAC tournament. But just like anything in Votraw’s life, he is always looking for the next best thing. In his eyes, nothing short of a SUNYAC title will be acceptable for both him and his team.
“The goal is to win a championship for Plattsburgh,” Votraw said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I think we’re more than capable.”
With Votraw’s influence, it seems the Cards should be in good hands for both the remainder of the season as well as their postseason endeavors. The new guys on the team feel confident in the leadership skills that Votraw offers to lead the team in the right direction.
“He’s the guy to go to if you need some work on your game,” teammate Juan Rodriguez said. “He’s always been a big help to me.”
Email Kevin Morley at kevin.morley@cardinalpointsonline.com
