PLATTSBURGH — It's been a bit of a strange season for the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team.

Despite losing just two games all year, the Cardinals (13-2-5), have had their share of ups and downs.

But Plattsburgh State finds itself right where it wants to be tonight — hosting a first-round contest in the NCAA Division III tournament against Bowdoin at 6 p.m.

"It has been a strong year for us," said Plattsburgh State head coach Chris Waterbury. "Still, I don't want to call it a bizarre year, but it has been an odd one.

"Just when we thought things couldn't go right, they went great. And when we thought nothing could go wrong, bad things happened. But what was good is the bad things ended up ties and not losses.

"It's been a sporadic season as far as the injuries and illnesses on the team. But it's hard to find any team that hasn't been hit with illness, and injuries are part of the game."

Waterbury said the injuries and illnesses may have helped the team in the long run.

"Maybe, because of having to use so many different line-ups, that helped out when guys get more playing time and experience," he said. "We've had so many players contribute and a lot of guys who have scored goals."

The Cardinals, who won the State University of New York Athletic Conference regular season with a 7-1-1 record, lost to Brockport in the conference tournament championship game Saturday. Brockport won 11-10 in penalty kicks after the two teams battled through a scoreless regulation and two overtimes.

As a result, Plattsburgh State needed to get an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament — and did, despite some worries.

"The guys definitely felt a lot better on Monday than they did on Sunday," Waterbury said. "They are fully aware that they shouldn't take it for granted and should be thankful that we are in this position.

"They also know at-large bids don't grow on trees. But, also to their credit, they have played good teams tough this season and have earned this. I'm happy with the record we have. And, no question, we are happy to be home."

Waterbury hopes the Cardinals can also relax a little and play their game tonight.

"I think the players could be more relaxed now," he said. "We have 20 first-year players on the team and we have players who are in uncharted territory.

"But it will be a positive experience for them. I told the guys all you want to do now is extend your season one more game. We're also hoping to get a good crowd at the game."

Bowdoin brings an 11-4-1 record into tonight's contest and also received an at-large berth after losing to eventual champion Williams, 2-0, in the NESCAC semifinals.

"I do know they are a very athletic team," Waterbury said. "They are also a very, very direct team.

"They are a difficult team to play against because when they control the tempo of the game, it becomes fragmented."

This is the first meeting in men's soccer between the Cardinals and Polar Bears.

The winner of tonight's contest moves on to play at the University of Rochester Sunday in the second round.

Bowdoin
Overall record: 11-4-1

NESCAC: 5-3-1

Home: 8-1

Away: 3-2-1

Neutral: 0-1

Goals (for-against): 35-10

Shots (for-against): 255-153

Corner kicks (for-against): 81-59

Game results

at Amherst L, 0-2

Southern Maine W, 3-1

Bates W, 4-0

at St. Joseph's (Me.) W, 2-0

Middlebury W, 1-0

Colby W, 3-0

at Connecticut College L, 0-1, OT

Husson W, 6-0

at Wesleyan T, 0-0, OT

at Colby-Sawyer W, 4-0

Williams L, 2-3

Babson W, 3-0

at Trinity W, 2-0

Tufts W, 2-1

Trinity W, 3-0

vs. Williams L, 0-2

Individual scoring

Player g a pts

Nick Powell 7 4 18

Tim Prior 5 4 14

Eddie Jones 5 3 13

Michael Gale 4 0 8

Carl Woock 3 2 8

Sean Bishop 3 1 7

Peter Kelley 2 1 5

Hugh Fleming 1 3 5

Call Nichols 2 0 4

Zach Ostrup 1 2 4

Hunter Clark 1 1 3

Daniel Chaffetz 0 3 3

Dan Hicks 1 0 2

Macgill Eldredge 0 1 1

David Schaeffer 01 1

Goaltending

Player rec gaa

Dan Hicks 8 4 1 0.75

Garrick Sheldon 3 0 0 0.00

Plattsburgh
Overall record: 13-2-5

SUNYAC: 7-1-1

Home: 7-1-1

Away: 6-0-2

Neutral: 0-1-1

Goals (for-against): 40-15

Shots (for-against): 301-143

Corner kicks (for-against): 137-53

Game results

Norwich W, 2-0

vs. Merchant Marine L, 1-2

vs. St. Joseph's (Me.) T, 2-2, OT

at Clarkson W, 3-1

at St. John Fisher W, 2-1

at Castleton State W, 3-1

Skidmore W, 3-2

at Brockport W, 4-1

at Geneseo W, 1-0, OT

Oswego L, 1-2, OT

Cortland W, 2-1

at Oneonta T, 0-0, OT

at New Paltz W, 3-0

Buffalo State W, 2-0

Fredonia W, 3-0

Union T, 1-1, OT

Potsdam W, 5-0

at St. Lawrence T, 1-1, OT

Oneonta W, 1-0

Brockport T, 0-0, OT

Individual scoring

Player g a pts

Chris Taylor 4 15 23

Pat Shaughnessy 7 6 20

Anis Makaren 8 2 18

Matt Hamilton 6 1 13

Joe Griffin 3 2 8

John LoGuirato 2 2 6

Brandon Levine 2 2 6

Gurtej Dhillon 0 6 6

Joe Bogart 2 0 4

Greg Wiley 1 2 4

Danny Byrnes 1 2 4

John Martin 1 1 3

Mike Pinamonti 1 1 3

Mike Payne 1 1 3

Jarred Antonucci 1 0 2

David Hickman 0 1 1

Eric Hakim 0 1 1

Goaltending

Player rec. gaa

Andy Heighington 13 1 4 0.65

Mike Lind 0 0 1 1.64

Zack Kruizenga 0 0 0 0.00