Cards honor seniors in last home series

BY NICHOLAS COUSINS Contributor

The SUNY Plattsburgh women’s softball team celebrated Senior Day Saturday, April 22 with backto-back wins in its doubleheader against Fredonia. It was a strong finish for the seniors in their last home game and to recognize them for all their hard work throughout their years here at Plattsburgh. Graduating is such a huge accomplishment and being able to get it done while playing your heart out for a sports team is not an easy task.

The senior class includes pitcher/outfielder

Softball

Kristina Maggiacomo, pitcher/infielder Julia Golino, catcher/infielder Rebecca Diller, outfielder Kristen Langdon, catcher Danielle Torres and infielder Kelsy Waite.

In the first matchup, Plattsburgh beat Fredonia in a dog fight with the score being 4 to 3. Maggiacomo had a monster game with 9 total strikeouts. Mikayla Manalo got a late RBI leading to a score from Michelle Gonzales to seal the game. In the next game, Plattsburgh showed no mercy and dominated as they won 16 to 0. Golino recorded three total strikeouts and her fingerprints were all over the game in the blowout win.

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Golino described Senior Day as “surreal” and acknowledged how much she has enjoyed being a leader on the team.

“As a senior, you are someone the team looks up to. You have to set an example and be there for your teammates,” Golino said. “College softball is something that I have been working toward my whole career and for it to be coming to a close is bittersweet. I was appreciative of what the under class man and coaches prepared for us with decorations, signs and gifts.”

Golino said she was able to really “develop and grow as a player and a person” during her time

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Head Coach Jake Mainville said Doud’s try was his favorite moment from the day.

“She came in not knowing anything about rugby in late January. Didn’t know the names of the positions, didn’t know where she was supposed to stand,” Mainville said. “It was just a perfectly executed try. It’s textbook. Exactly what you’d want it to look like.”

The teams were seeded at 1:30 p.m., pitting Plattsburgh against

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Guzzetta recently claimed more records. Against Potsdam, Guzzetta secured her 100th career point, retiring with 106 total. She also locked down the single-game points and assist records with 11 and six respectively She became the sole leader of the single-season goals title with 32 and points on the team. She cites the softball team as introducing her to people that will be close friends for the rest of her life. She also took the time to acknowledge her great mentor and coaches.

Golino encourages those interested in playing softball to go for it. She’s enjoyed meeting great people and said the experiences she’s had on the team have made her time at college great.

It’s not always easy to leave somewhere that you have been for a long time. There are so many mixed emotions that can come across, but these players know they have to stay strong through the course

Paul Smith’s, with the winner advancing to the final round.

Plattsburgh took down Paul Smith’s 20-0 at 2:30 p.m., paving the way for a championship appearance. The women’s team faced the alumni squad in the final at 4 p.m., losing 5-10. Despite the result, it was still a good day for Cardinals.

“This one is probably the most special one that I’ve played in, especially because it’s my last one as a student,” women’s rugger Shannon Tracy said. “It means a lot. It was a really fun day and I’m really glad everything worked out.” title with 41 after her fivepoint performance against Fredonia.

In the same game, midfielder Emma McLaughin set the record for most caused turnovers in a season, ending the year with 36. Less than a month ago, McLaughlin also secured the single-season ground balls record, finishing this season with 52. McLaughlin was already the all-time leader, finishing her career with 108.

“They’ve been huge. They’ve made my deci- of their journey. Graduating college can seem like an end, but it is also a beginning. Everyone will miss something.

“It is a little sad being a senior and the thought of not playing softball anymore. It was nice to have a day for all of the seniors because of everything we put into this program,” Maggiacomo said.

Maggiacomo spoke about her time as a Cardinal and what she would tell future athletes interested in softball.

“I have had a good experience here as a cardinal so I will definitely miss it. I would tell younger players that want to join that it is a lot of work being a student

Tracy credited Mainville for essentially teaching the team how to play rugby. Mainville said he’s proud of the direction of the team and pleased with what it has accomplished this year.

“It was fantastic to see it all pay off. The girls out there, the things that we’ve been working on all season came together,” Mainville said. “That was Plattsburgh rugby like I’ve never seen it before.”

Though the competition was fierce, the day served as a team bonding experience, bringing the rugby family together. For- sion extremely difficult each game,” Wall said. “They’ve played outstanding in the last couple of games.”

Plattsburgh’s two-goalie tandem of Lilla Nease and Johanna Malone took home a record each this season. Malone, who has been the team’s primary starter over the past two seasons, recorded the most wins in a single season by a goalie with four, just six games into the season. Nease had a strong performance athlete but it is definitely worth it,” Maggiacomo said.

Diller shared her feelings about Senior Day while expressing the influence she wants to have.

“Being a senior, I wanted to be someone for the younger girls to look up to,” Diller said. “I looked to the seniors as I’ve gone through school and I want to be able to be that person for others. Senior Day was special, we helped to develop the team that is playing today and we are our coach’s first full four year group.” mer Cardinal rugger Sky Fenton returned to the pitch to play with the alumni squad. She’s encouraged by the growth of the club, especially the new rookie class, recalling a time when there were only six players. Fenton was happy to see how big TnT had become for the women’s team.

Diller added that having the opportunity to play softball in college has driven her to work harder academically. Her message to younger players is to always work hard, on and off the field and to never doubt themselves.

The job is not finished for the team as they go on the road to play Oneonta and New Paltz this week in some important matchups. The team plans to keep practicing hard and improving on the little things necessary to win the games. The team strives to keep the same mentality, momentum and confidence from this past weekend and build it even higher.

“The last TnT I’ve gone to, or the last few, we had only one or two teams that we were playing,” Fenton said. “It’s just great to see that we had five teams this year and maybe we can have even more.”

Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

against Oneonta April 19, saving 16 shots, a singlegame record.

“This means a lot, especially playing for a new athletic program at Plattsburgh,” McLaughlin wrote in a text. “I’m so happy to have ended my career with a win with such amazing girls and I’m looking forward to future years of Plattsburgh women’s lacrosse.”

The 2023 Cardinals season will be remembered as another stepping stone in establishing Platts- burgh women’s lacrosse. At some point, this program will break another single-season win record. At some point, this program will make the SUNYAC playoffs. Before this team sees prolonged success, someone needs to set the marks to beat and the standards to reach.

Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

Baseball

Cardinals baseball played five games over the past week, including a three-game series against the SUNYAC rival Oswego Lakers. During the six-day stretch, Plattsburgh went 2-4.

The Cards kicked off the Lakers series with a 3-4 loss April 21. Plattsburgh took a 2-1 lead in the third inning when outfielder Conner Gonzalski homered, bringing in a runner. Oswego responded with a home run of its own in the same inning. The Cards retook the lead in the fourth when a single from outfielder Jack Defayette brought in a runner. The Lakers secured the win with a two-run homer in the seventh. Cardinals pitcher Kolby Mordecki struck out 11 batters, but the team couldn’t secure the win.

Plattsburgh split a double header with Oswego April 22, winning 5-3 in game one and losing 2-8 in game two. In the Cardinals’ win, a three-run scoring outburst in the sixth inning propelled the team to victory. Pitcher