CORTLAND, N.Y. – Senior Tom Greene (Schenectady/South Colonie) scored just before the midway point of the second half to break a 1-1 tie as fourth-seeded Plattsburgh defeated second-seeded Cortland, 2-1, in the SUNYAC Finals Saturday morning at Jets Field. The Red Dragons fell to 11-7-1 with the setback, while the Cardinals improved to 15-5-1 and earned an automatic NCAA Div. III playoff berth.

Sophomore Dillon Johnson (Northport) scored Cortland's goal in the second half. Junior goalie Tim Beauvais (Hilton) made five saves.

Freshman Alexis Archilla (Warwick/Warwick Valley) tallied Plattsburgh's first goal. Senior Joe Aratari (Rochester/Irondequoit) collected an assist. Sophomore goalie Mitchell Jordon (Bolton Landing/Bolton) stopped four shots.

Archilla gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. Plattsburgh put a ball toward the top of the box that was misplayed by the Red Dragons. Archilla was able to get a foot on the ball and tuck a low shot inside the right post from 12 yards away.

Cortland tied the game early in the second half on a superb individual effort by Johnson. He collected a ball deep in the left corner, beat one defender to the right, cut across the top of the box and shook a second defender before knocking a shot inside the left post.. Just over 15 minutes later, Greene scored the game-winner. Aratari carried the ball down the right side and fed a cross into the box where Greene one-touched a shot into the open side of the net.

The Red Dragons were denied any quality chances to tie the game over the final 20 minutes. Cortland's last chance to generate the tying goal came with 20 seconds remaining after a Plattsburgh foul, but junior Darren McCormack's (Dublin, Ireland/Fingal) serve into the box on the free kick was cleared away.

Plattsburgh senior Matt Hamilton (Keeseville/Ausable Valley) was named the Tournament MVP. Greene and sophomores Clay Sherman (Willsboro) and Fabian Chaparro (Mamaroneck) joined Hamilton on the All-Tournament Team for the Cardinals. Johnson and seniors Ian Cusack (East Northport/Northport) and Joe Buffolino (Commack) were Cortland's selections to the All-Tournament Team. Rounding out the team were Peter DiLorenzo and Kevin Nichols of The College at Brockport and Justin Rivera and Jared Van Brunt of Oneonta.

Plattsburgh 2, Cortland 1

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists)
Plattsburgh: Alexis Archilla 1-0, Tom Greene 1-0, Joe Aratari 0-1
Cortland: Dillon Johnson 1-0

Halftime: Plattsburgh 1, Cortland 0
Shots: Plattsburgh 22, Cortland 13
Corner Kicks: Plattsburgh 10, Cortland 1
Fouls: Plattsburgh 13, Cortland 9
Saves: Mitchell Jordon (Plattsburgh) 4 (1 GA in 90:00); Tim Beauvais (Cortland) 5 (2 GA in 90:00)

Records after game: Plattsburgh (Cardinals) 15-5-1; Cortland (Red Dragons) 11-7-1