Recapping events from Monday, October 28 - Sunday, November 3, 2002

FOOTBALL (1-7) - Bengals Comeback Bid Falls Short

Buffalo State nearly overcame a 23-0 deficit, but fell to 1-7 on the season with a 23-18 loss at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, OH on Saturday.

The Bengals fell behind 23-0 with 5:42 remaining in the second quarter on three Spartan touchdowns and a safety. Buffalo State got itself on the scoreboard for the first time on the final play of the half, when Bobby Ballard (Buffalo/McKinley) reeled in a 29-yard strike from Jeff Shostak (E. Smethport, PA/Smethport).

Buffalo State took the ball 62 yards on its first possession of the second half and Marc Hoppy (Depew/Depew) fell on a teammate's fumble in the endzone to cut further into the deficit. A second missed two-point conversion left the score 23-12. The Bengals found the endzone a final time with 4:34 remaining when Ahmir Cole (Buffalo/Seneca) plunged in from one yard out. After another failed conversion, Case Western led 23-18. On the ensuing possession, the Bengals forced the Spartans into a three-and-out situation, and took over on their own 46-yard line with 3:05 remaining. Buffalo State drove down to the Spartans 24-yard line, but a interception with 42 seconds remaining, dashed the Bengals hopes.

Tyree Parker (Buffalo/Burgard) led the Bengals defense with 14 tackles. Bo Sirieka (Lackawanna/ Lackawanna) grabbed his first interception of the season, as the Bengals held the nation's second-ranked offense scoreless in the second half. HT Williams (Syracuse/Christian Bros.) had four catches for 79 yards and Felix Joyner (Rochester/Hilton) was the leading rusher with 60 yards on nine carries. Shostak was 8-for-17 for 134 with a touchdown and one interception in place of Nick Stepien (Blasdell/Frontier) who suffered a shoulder injury in the first half.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will play its final road game of the season this Saturday at Ithaca at 1 p.m.

CROSS COUNTRY - Runner Ready for State Championships

Buffalo State will compete this Saturday at the NYSCTC Championship at Oswego.

VOLLEYBALL (23-11/5-3) - Volleyball Tunes Up for Championships

Buffalo State won just one of three matches during the last week of the regular season, defeating Allegheny and falling to RIT and Carnegie Mellon.

On Tuesday, Buffalo State was defeated at RIT in four games, 24-30, 25-30, 30-24 and 22-30. Monica Polka (Youngstown/Lewiston-Porter) led the offense with 16 kills, and Lisa Herrscher (Clarence/Clarence) added 10. Krista Wierzbicki (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) recorded 31 assists and 17 digs.

The Bengals traveled to Allegheny on Saturday and defeated the host Gators in five games 27-30, 30-27, 25-30, 30-23 and 15-12. The Bengals scored double-digit kills, led by Polka's 17 and Herrscher's 13. Vicky Manos (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) added 10, and Wierzbicki dished out 52 assists. Denise Jedynak (Hamburg/Frontier) recorded 13 digs.

In the day's second match, Buffalo State was defeated by Carnegie Mellon, the 22nd ranked team in the nation, 30-22, 30-17 and 30-21. Manos had four kills and 11 digs, while Herrscher tallied six kills and seven digs.

Buffalo State's record fell to 23-11.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will travel to Brockport on Friday for the SUNYAC Championships where it will face Cortland in the quarterfinals at 3 p.m.

MEN'S HOCKEY (1-2-1) - Bengals Split in All-Sport Invitational

Buffalo State opened its home schedule as the host of the 2002 All Sport Invitational, and split its two-game set with Utica and Hobart.

On Friday, Buffalo State came from behind twice to grab a 4-2 victory over Utica (1-2). The Pioneers opened the scoring in the first period when , but Buffalo State evened the score just 1:11 into the second stanza when Joe Urbanik (Calumet City, IL) notched his first of the year, but Utica regained the lead just 24 second. Buffalo State pulled even again 4:48 into the final frame on Henry Jurek's (E. Amherst) marker. Morgan McElman (Bayside, NB) gave the Bengals their first lead with just 17 seconds remaining and then added an empty-netter six seconds later to seal the win for the Bengals. Steve Thering (Fairport) made 21 saves in the win.

On Saturday, Hobart used a pair of late goals to earn a 4-2 victory over Buffalo State. The Statesmen took a 2-0 lead with a pair of power-play. Buffalo State rallied to tie the score with two goals just 1:51 apart in late in the second frame by Jason Sirois (Feeding Hills, MA) and Brian Janke (Anchorage, AK). Hobart notched two quick goals at 16:25 and 16:57 of the third period to ice the game, however. Nick Berti (Orchard Park) made 32 saves in the loss.

Buffalo State is 1-2-1.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will open its SUNYAC schedule at home this weekend when it hosts Cortland on Friday and Oswego on Saturday.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY (1-5, 0-2) - Bengals Drop Two in Plattsburgh

Buffalo State was defeated in a pair of ECAC West contests this weekend at Plattsburgh.

On Saturday, Plattsburgh, the seventh ranked team in the nation, defeated the Bengals 8-2. Goaltender Mary Keddie (Willamsville/Buffalo Bisons) made 75 saves in the game. After falling behind 1-0 in the late stages of the first period, Jessica DeCarlo (Liverpool/Syracuse Stars) tied the game at 1-1, on a pass from Janelle Schmitt (Arlington, WA/Northwest Admirals). Buffalo State's second goal was scored by Nicole Jewell (Fenton, MI/Honeybaked) with the assists from Tara Ostempowski (Lancaster/Buffalo Bisons) and Kim Cosatnzo (Cheektowaga/Buffalo Bisons).

Buffalo State looked to rebound on Sunday, but Plattsburgh continued its offensive attack, and shut out Buffalo State, 8-0. The Bengals only recorded six shots in the game, while Keddie had another big number day, recording 43 saves.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will travel to RIT for a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday night, before returning home for a pair of weekend games against Chatham College on Saturday and Sunday. Games times are 4 p.m. and 1p.m. respectively.

SWIMMING & DIVING - Team Travels to RIT

The Bengals' men's and women's teams each fell in a dual meet at RIT on Saturday.

Senior, Matt Helming (Amherst/Sweet Home) led the way for the Bengals, winning the 200 Free with a time of 1:57:18. Bret Stodolka (Darien/Alexander) and Tommy Schilke (Tonawanda/Sweet Home) finished in first and second places respectively in the one-meter diving event, with scores of 194.90 and 187.35. The men were eventually defeated 145-71. This loss drops their overall record to 0-2.

On the women's side, the Bengals were defeated 131-94, despite Kristen Snyder (Syracuse/Westhill) placing first in the 100-yard Breaststroke, finishing in 1:19:48.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will be home on Wednesday night for a meet against Canisius College (women only) at 6 p.m. in Kissinger Pool. The whole team will be in action next weekend, traveling to Oswego to compete in the sprint relays. Start times are 11 a.m. for diving, and 12 p.m. for the swimming events.

MEN'S SOCCER (5-11-2, 2-7) - Bengals End Season With A Victory

Buffalo State played host to Daemen College on Tuesday, and defeated the Warriors 4-1.

Mike Abrams (Allegany/Allegany-Limestone) opened the scoring in the 11th minute on a nice lead pass from Jon Lewis (Newport, WALES/St. Teilus). Daemen then tied the game in the 16th minute, and neither team would score for the rest of the first half. In the second half, Buffalo State dominated the game, showing the offensive brilliance they missed all season, scoring three unanswered goals. Stu Hanson (Lincoln, ENGLAND/N. Kesteven) scored the eventual game winner from Abrams. Senior Dave Aselin (Rochester/Gates-Chili) scored Buffalo State's third goal, and Abrams scored his second goal of the game putting the icing on the cake for the Bengals in the 78th minute.

This was the final game of the 2002 season for Buffalo State, who finished 5-11-2 overall, and 2-7 in SUNYAC play.