Cross Country Women Win at Hobart; Volleyball Does the Splits; Football Falls to 0-3; Soccers Off to Tough Start in SUNYAC; Tennis Making Small Strides

CROSS COUNTRY - Women Finish First, Men Place Second at Hobart Invitational

Buffalo State's men's and women's teams each had their best finishes of the season at the Hobart & William Smith Invitational.

Buffalo State placed five women in the top 20 of the six team field, as Buffalo State captured it's first invitational win of the year, on the 6k course. Freshman Tiffany Knarr (East Aurora/Iriquois) led the way for the Bengals finishing in sixth place with a time of 24:18. Aleksandra Halin (Clarence/Clarence) finished just a second behind Knarr, in seventh place with a time of 24:19. A time of 24:38 was good enough for Tammy Putt (Allegany/Allegany) to finish in ninth place, and Nichole Van Han Hoesen (Stamford/Stamford Central) and Autumn Hensel (Akron/Akron) finished 13th and 19th respectively with times of 25:05 and 25:44.

The Bengals men's team nearly equaled the women's accomplishments on Saturday, finishing second out of six teams on the 8k course. Buffalo State's top-five men each finished in the top 20. Leading the way for the Bengals with a time of 26:11 was Michael Herron (West Seneca/West Seneca East) who finished third overall. Finishing sixth overall was AJ Walsh (Hamburg/Frontier) with a time of 26:45. Junior Matt Kubiak (Lakeview/Frontier) finished ninth with a time of 27:02, while Jon Jackson (Utica/TR Proctor) and Tim Hill (Lyndonville/Barker Central) finished 17th and 19th respectively with times of 28:13 and 28:24.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will be at the St. Lawrence Invitational on Saturday, September 28.

VOLLEYBALL (8-6) - Volleyball Splits Pair of Matches in Light Week

Buffalo State played just two matches this past week, splitting a pair of contests on its home floor.

On Tuesday the Bengals hosted the no. 15 ranked Nazareth Golden Flyers and dropped a 3-0 decision by scores of 25-30, 28-30 and 23-30, ending a four-match winning streak. Monica Polka (Youngstown/Lewiston-Porter) led Buffalo States efforts with 17 kills, seven digs and seven blocks. Krista Wierzbicki (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) dished out 20 assists and had seven digs, while Lisa Herrscher (Clarence/Clarence) had 11 digs and five blocks.

On Thursday, Buffalo State returned to its winning ways as it defeated cross-town rival Medaille 30-21, 30-14, 29-31 and 30-10. The Bengals entire roster saw playing time as Polka led the attack again with 10 kills, 10 digs and four aces. Vicky Manos (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) was equally dominant with nine kills, 10 digs and five aces. Denise Jedynak (Hamburg/Frontier) also had similar numbers with eight kills, 10 digs and two aces. Wierzbicki added 35 assists and eight digs to the winning cause.

Buffalo State improved its overall record to 8-6.

Who's Next?

The Bengals will have a final tune-up Wednesday at 8 p.m. at home against D'Youville before travelling to Fredonia for the first round of SUNYAC Pool Play this Friday and Saturday.

FOOTBALL (0-3) - Bengals Miscues Lead to 0-3 Start

Buffalo State fell to 0-3 on the season as it fell at Albion (MI) on Saturday by a score of 51-7.

After falling behind 27-0 at halftime, Buffalo State kicked the ball to the Britons to open the third quarter. On a third-and-eight play for Albion on the third snap of the quarter, Nick Warren (Cheektowaga/West Seneca East) picked off an errant pass, giving the Bengals the ball at the home team?s 34-yardline. The Bengals needed just seven plays to pound the ball over the goal line for their first score of the day. Ahmir Cole (Buffalo/Seneca) was credited with the first touchdown of his young collegiate career as he ran it in from four yards out. After a successful extra point by Eric Buchanan (Hamburg/Frontier), Buffalo State was thinking about a comeback, trailing 27-7. Later in the third quarter, Albion would capitalize on a Bengal turnover to extend its lead and would never look back.

The Bengals were plagued by turnovers all day, throwing five interceptions and losing three fumbles. In addition, Buffalo State allowed an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Sterling Anderson (Detroit, MI/MLK) was Buffalo State?s leading rusher, carrying the ball 14 times for 47 yards. Freshman Mike Puck (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Cardinal Gibbons) led the receiving corps with four catches for 40 yards, while Jeff Shostak (E. Smethport, PA/Smethport) and Mariano Granata (Lewiston/Lewiston-Porter) shared the quarterbacking duties, throwing for 30 and 50 yards respectively.

Defensively, Tony Favata (Hamburg/Hamburg) and Star Handley (Williamsville/Tonawanda) led the Bengals with nine tackles apiece. Warren added eight stops and a sack to go along with his first interception of the season. Tyree Parker (Buffalo/Burgard) made six tackles and also had an interception with a 46-yard return.

Who?s Next?

Buffalo State will return to Coyer Field this Saturday for homecoming against the Cortland Red Dragons at 1 p.m.

MEN'S SOCCER (2-4, 0-2) Buffalo State Looking for Goal Scorers

Buffalo State was on the road this weekend, losing its first two SUNYAC games against Geneseo and Brockport.

Friday afternoon the Bengals traveled to Geneseo, and fell by a 1-0 margin. Senior Dave Aslin (Rochester/Gates-Chili) led the way with two shots, and goaltender Kevin Senator (Scottsville/Wheatland-Chili) recorded four saves.

On Saturday the Bengals dropped their fourth game of the season, another 1-0 loss, this time at the hands of Brockport. Buffalo State played almost the entire second half short-handed after sophomore Stu Hanson (Lincoln, England/N. Kesteven) was ejected for a red card during the 54th minute. The only goal of the game, scored by Brockport, came at the 82:24 mark, handing the Bengals their third straight shutout loss.

Buffalo State now 2-4 overall, and 0-2 in the SUNYAC.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will play two games this week, hosting RIT on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Coyer Field, and then traveling to Elmira for a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (1-6, 0-2) - Bengals Drop First Two SUNYAC Games

Buffalo State's dropped a pair of home contests against Geneseo and Brockport to open the 2002 SUNYAC season.

On Friday Buffalo State hosted a strong Geneseo team and was outmatched 8-0. Geneseo scored two early goals, and took a 5-0 lead to halftime. The Bengals failed to generate any offense, as they were outshot 25-3. Freshmen goaltenders Erin Strassburg (North Tonawanda/North Tonawanda) and Nastassja Dasque (Brooklyn/A. Philip Randolph) both saw playing time and combined for 9 saves.

Saturday the Brockport Golden Eagles handed Buffalo State it's sixth loss of the year, 7-1. Scoring the lone goal for the Bengals was junior Amy Drozen (Willamsville/Willamsville East). Buffalo State was again outshot, 33-6, as Strassburg made 17 saves between the pipes.

Buffalo State is now 1-6 overall and 0-2 in the SUNYAC.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will host another pair of games this weekend at Coyer Field. Saturday the Bengals will face SUNYIT at 1 p.m., and then face off against Cazenovia on Sunday at noon.

TENNIS - (0-4) Bengals Taking Small Steps

Buffalo State fell to 0-4 on the season with a pair of losses to Geneseo and New Paltz by matching scores of 8-1.

The Bengals traveled to Geneseo on Tuesday, and despite a victory at first singles, could not match the power of the Knights. Melissa Kulju (N. Tonawanda/N. Tonawanda) earned the individual victory with a straight sets 6-3, 6-3 win. Buffalo State's top doubles team of Amanda Coats (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) and Molly Mcpherson (Clarence/Clarence) held its own and nearly escaped with victory before falling 8-6.

After Thursday's match against Penn State Behrend was postponed due to a scheduling conflict, Buffalo State hosted New Paltz on Sunday, falling 8-1. The second doubles team of Kulju and Sherrie Burton (Brooklyn/Erasmus Hall) earned the lone Bengal victory 8-4.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will play four road matches this week as it will travel to Fredonia on Tuesday, RIT on Thursday, Oswego on Saturday and closing out the week on Sunday at Alfred.