Plattsburgh State women’s soccer is back on the pitch and is hungry to get back to the postseason. The Cardinals, who were the first team out of the 2024 SUNYAC playoff picture, are using their seventh place finish as motivation to have a better 2025. “It was definitely frustrating, but we understood why it happened,” said Plattsburgh senior midfielder Alexis Patrick. “It just pushes us harder to get to the SUNYAC postseason this year and go as far as we can.” Plattsburgh is looking to improve from a 5-11-1 overall mark a year ago. They are aiming to start the season stronger, picking up three wins in their first 10 games of play in 2024. One thing the Cardinals are working on improving is their goal scoring. Plattsburgh scored 15 as a team in 2024, leading them to average 0.88 goals per game in 2024. This year’s squad is already brainstorming ways to make their offense more consistent this time around. “I think we got a lot of great new talent in our attack,” Patrick said. “Building those quick passes to get us up and get us in the 18 to create opportunities will be key.” “It starts by building from our back (defenders),” said Plattsburgh senior midfielder Hannah Meyers. “We’re so strong in the back, and now we’ve built up a strong midfield, and with the transfers and everyone coming in. It’s just working as a unit, building out of the back and finding the net.” Plattsburgh has plenty of new talent to work with. The Cardinals feature 13 first years on the roster, a large new recruitment class, which head coach Whitney Frary believes the returning Cardinals have done a good job in helping them make a quick transition into the college game. “We have some really good leadership and some great players that are returning,” Frary said. “I think that they’re really willing to take on those freshmen and really teach them what our expectations are and what our culture is.” Frary is also featuring a few transfers on her roster this season, including three who are local to Clinton County. Sydney Myers, Lilley Keyser and Desiree Dubois join the list of 10 North Country soccer players (Laci Roberts, Bailee LaFountain, Kam Bezio, Jillian Bezio, Hannah Meyers, Lia Parker, Sophie Miller). The continuous growth of local talent surrounding the women’s soccer team is what Meyers describes as a special honor to be a part of. “It means a lot to me,” she said. “I went to Peru (N.Y.), so seeing familiar faces in the stands is so much fun. It’s always nice to connect with people. It feels like you’re at home.”Frary believes will bring a boosted competitive edge to Plattsburgh State based on their skillsets but also their determination to compete at the highest level. “There’s a resiliency, athleticism and grit that comes with the North Country players,” Frary said. “There’s a lot of talent up here, and I’ve loved to be able to tap into it. I’m fortunate to be able to be at Plattsburgh and have players that want to come here and stay close to home. Myers and Keyser, who were two of the top goal scorers at each of their respective high schools, are two of the local transfers Frary believes will have an instant offensive impact for the Cardinals. Myers, who surpassed 100 career goals with Saranac High School, played for two different NCAA Division II programs, St. Rose College and Southern Connecticut State University, before transferring to Plattsburgh. Keyser, who was a forward and midfielder for Ausable Valley High School, was named the most outstanding player in the 2021 New York State Public High School Class C girls’ soccer tournament, the same season Ausable Valley won the state championship. She played one season for one of the NCAA’s premier Division III programs at William Smith College. “I think the impact that both of those players had in the spring was immense,” Frary said. “We’re hoping to add some goals with both of them and be able to really get a robust attacking game going.”Plattsburgh State will open its season on Friday, Aug. 29, with a home opener against Castleton University. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. —

Plattsburgh State women’s soccer is back on the pitch and is hungry to get back to the postseason.

The Cardinals, who were the first team out of the 2024 SUNYAC playoff picture, are using their seventh place finish as motivation to have a better 2025.

“It was definitely frustrating, but we understood why it happened,” said Plattsburgh senior midfielder Alexis Patrick. “It just pushes us harder to get to the SUNYAC postseason this year and go as far as we can.”

Plattsburgh is looking to improve from a 5-11-1 overall mark a year ago. They are aiming to start the season stronger, picking up three wins in their first 10 games of play in 2024.

One thing the Cardinals are working on improving is their goal scoring. Plattsburgh scored 15 as a team in 2024, leading them to average 0.88 goals per game in 2024. This year’s squad is already brainstorming ways to make their offense more consistent this time around.

“I think we got a lot of great new talent in our attack,” Patrick said. “Building those quick passes to get us up and get us in the 18 to create opportunities will be key.”

“It starts by building from our back (defenders),” said Plattsburgh senior midfielder Hannah Meyers. “We’re so strong in the back, and now we’ve built up a strong midfield, and with the transfers and everyone coming in. It’s just working as a unit, building out of the back and finding the net.”

Plattsburgh has plenty of new talent to work with. The Cardinals feature 13 first years on the roster, a large new recruitment class, which head coach Whitney Frary believes the returning Cardinals have done a good job in helping them make a quick transition into the college game.

“We have some really good leadership and some great players that are returning,” Frary said. “I think that they’re really willing to take on those freshmen and really teach them what our expectations are and what our culture is.”

Frary is also featuring a few transfers on her roster this season, including three who are local to Clinton County. Sydney Myers, Lilley Keyser and Desiree Dubois join the list of 10 North Country soccer players (Laci Roberts, Bailee LaFountain, Kam Bezio, Jillian Bezio, Hannah Meyers, Lia Parker, Sophie Miller).

The continuous growth of local talent surrounding the women’s soccer team is what Meyers describes as a special honor to be a part of.

“It means a lot to me,” she said. “I went to Peru (N.Y.), so seeing familiar faces in the stands is so much fun. It’s always nice to connect with people. It feels like you’re at home.”

Frary believes will bring a boosted competitive edge to Plattsburgh State based on their skillsets but also their determination to compete at the highest level.

“There’s a resiliency, athleticism and grit that comes with the North Country players,” Frary said. “There’s a lot of talent up here, and I’ve loved to be able to tap into it. I’m fortunate to be able to be at Plattsburgh and have players that want to come here and stay close to home.

Myers and Keyser, who were two of the top goal scorers at each of their respective high schools, are two of the local transfers Frary believes will have an instant offensive impact for the Cardinals.

Myers, who surpassed 100 career goals with Saranac High School, played for two different NCAA Division II programs, St. Rose College and Southern Connecticut State University, before transferring to Plattsburgh.

Keyser, who was a forward and midfielder for Ausable Valley High School, was named the most outstanding player in the 2021 New York State Public High School Class C girls’ soccer tournament, the same season Ausable Valley won the state championship. She played one season for one of the NCAA’s premier Division III programs at William Smith College.

“I think the impact that both of those players had in the spring was immense,” Frary said. “We’re hoping to add some goals with both of them and be able to really get a robust attacking game going.”

Plattsburgh State will open its season on Friday, Aug. 29, with a home opener against Castleton University. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.