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For the second consecutive year, the Oswego State men's soccer team needed overtime to defeat the Plattsburgh Cardinals. Freshman Ryan Tibbetts' first goal of the season was a crucial one, earning the Lakers a 2-1 win in extra time at Laker Field on Friday afternoon. The win improves Oswego State to 3-5-1 on the season and 1-1-0 in conference play. Plattsburgh falls to 7-2-1 and 1-2-0 in the SUNYAC.

The Lakers got the scoring started in the eighth minute when a Bryan Pacchiana free kick cleared Plattsburgh goalie Andy Heighington, deflected off the crossbar and landed in front of the net where senior Jonathan Kuracina was waiting to poke in the rebound.

Oswego State tried to sustain the pressure on Plattsburgh, but the Cardinals responded with sharp, precise passes on a soggy field. An injury to Laker starting goalkeeper #P.J. Goodwin forced backup Matt Wopperer# to enter the contest shortly after Oswego State's goal. Wopperer was put to the test with about seven minutes left in the half and he stood strong, coming up with two big saves as Plattsburgh controlled the majority of possession for the rest of the first half.  However, the Lakers retained the 1-0 lead at the intermission.

The second half provided more physical play from both teams as 20 combined penalties were committed in the second half alone, 37 were committed for the game.  Plattsburgh had a chance to knot up the score in the 56th minute, but a free kick by Mike Payne from just outside the box sailed barely high.

Plattsburgh would not be denied any longer as in the 78th minute Bart Misiak was able to head in a Chris Taylor cross to knot the game at one. The Lakers fought to earn more chances late, and nearly cashed in with about 11 minutes left. After two shots by Max Guliani were blocked, Tibbetts hammered a shot from the left side of the box that skimmed the crossbar and went out of play.  Regulation ended with the teams deadlocked, so the game went to overtime.

Halfway through the period, Plattsburgh's Pat Shaugnessy received a pass in front of a seemingly open net as Wopperer was forced to come out and cut off the angles. Wopperer correctly anticipated the pass and dove right to stop Shughnessy's shot cold.

Mintues later Pacchiana calmly settled the ball following a Plattsburgh foul for a free kick and served it into the box. The Cardinal defense was caught off-guard and Tibbetts did not let this chance pass by. He wriggled through two defenders and fired the ball into the back of the net for the 2-1 triumph.

The Cardinals had a slight 17-16 edge in shots. Wopperer finished the game with six saves for Oswego State, while Heighington stopped two shots for Plattsburgh.

"Everybody came together," Oswego State coach Robert Friske said. "The guys that didn't see the field were just as important as Kuracina or Tibbetts. It was a true team win."

The Lakers look to carry their confidence into Saturday's matchup against Potsdam at 1 p.m.