Bengal Beat - Volume 12, Issue 2

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Recapping events from Monday, September 1 - Sunday, September 7

FOOTBALL (0-1) – Robert Morris Outlasts Bengals in Opener

Robert Morris (1-0) assembled a seven play, 84-yard drive late in the fourth quarter and then recovered a fumble in the end zone to ice a 33-23 victory over Buffalo State (0-1) today at Coyer Field in the season opener for both teams.

Buffalo State opened the scoring driving Robert Morris backwards nine yards on its opening drive and then Mike Potter blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for the score. Robert Morris answered on the next drive as Rupert Morris reeled in a 16-yard pass from Sam Dorsett on a halfback option to even the score at 7-7.

Ken Ciolek (Limestone/Bradford Area) put the Bengals back in the lead early in the second quarter with a 31-yard field goal, but the Colonials answered again on the ensuing drive, marching 68 yards, capped off by a Dorsett two-yard plunge. Buffalo State reclaimed the lead before the half, when TJ Cottrell (East Amherst/Williamsville East) caught a 5-yard strike from Mike Mikolaichik (Hilton/Hilton), but a missed extra point gave the Bengals a 16-14 lead at the intermission.

Robert Morris recorded the only score of the third quarter when Dante Settles caught a Drew Geyer pass for a 25-yard score. The Bengals reclaimed the lead a final time as Mikolaichik connected with Marc Hoppy (Depew/Depew) on a 21-yard scoring play to put the home team ahead 23-20. The Colonials orchestrated a long drive on their next possession, capped off by Dorsett’s second touchdown of the game, from 18 yards out. Robb Butler sacked Mikolaichik on the next Buffalo State drive, and James Niklos recovered the fumble in the end zone to make the final score 33-23.

Curtis Hathcock (Buffalo/Bennett) led the Bengals offense with 21 carries for 112 yards, while Mikolaichik was 17-for-28 for 212 yards and two touchdowns, but three interceptions in his first collegiate start. Hoppy led the Bengals receivers with five catches for 74 yards and HT Williams (Syracuse/Christian Brothers) also caught five balls for 69 yards. Potter led Buffalo State with 14 tackles and Bo Sireika (Lackawanna/Lackawanna) recorded eight tackles and two sacks. Mike Carrubba (Depew/Depew) added 12 tackles and Nick Warren (Cheektowaga/West Seneca West) added 10.

Who’s Next?

Buffalo State will visit Mansfield this Saturday at 1 p.m.

CROSS COUNTRY – Bengals Host Daniel Walker Invitational

Buffalo State opened its seasons on Saturday hosting the Daniel Walker Memorial Invitational at Beaver Island State Park. The women’s team placed eighth of 12 teams with 309 points, while Edinboro won the meet with 50 points. The men also finished eighth of 11 teams with 354 points, as Geneseo took the title with 40 points.

Nichole Van Hoesen (Stamford/Stamford) led the Bengals on the women’s side placing 70th with a time of 21:49. Kirstin Gregoire, Aleksandra Halin (Clarence/Clarence) and Tiffany Knarr (East Aurora/Iroquois) followed right behind, finishing 71st, 72nd and 73rd respectively.

AJ Walsh (Hamburg/Frontier) led the men’s team with a 10th place finish in 26:34. James Howze (Amherst/Sweet Home) had a strong showing in his first collegiate meet as he placed 69th. Jon Jackson (Utica/TR Proctor) grabbed 88th, Dan Hargrove (Dansville/Dansville) crossed 92nd, and Josh Nichols (Newark/Newark) placed 95th.

What’s Next?

Buffalo State will be back in action this Saturday as it will compete at the Oswego Invitational.

VOLLEYBALL (3-7) – Bengals Fast Start Fades in Busy Week

Buffalo State won three matches to open the week, but ran out of gas on the final day of the Cortland Red Dragon Classic as it dropped three non-conference meetings against SUNYAC foes.

Buffalo State picked up its first win of the season and the first of Coach Adrienne Turley’s career on Tuesday at Hilbert, 30-12, 30-14 and 30-16. Sam Damstetter (West Seneca/West Seneca East) and Vicky Manos (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) led the Bengals offense with nine kills each and Krista Wierzbicki (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) registered 18 assists and five aces.

The Bengals opened the Cortland Red Dragon Classic on Friday with a victory over St. Michael’s by scores of 30-26, 30-19, 17-30 and 30-15. Wierzbicki drove the offense again with 27 assists and Damstetter fired 11 aces. Denise Jedynak (Hamburg/Frontier) anchored the defense with 22 digs.

Buffalo State won its third straight in Friday’s nightcap, defeatin St. Lawrence 23-30, 30-16, 30-22 and 30-28. Manos registered a match-high 18 kills and Wierzbicki dished out 31 assists.

The Bengals faced the host school in the first match on Saturday, and came up short despite a strong effort, by scores of 20-30, 17-30, 30-27 and 21-30. Wierzbicki posted 35 assists and Manos notched 15 kills and served five aces in the loss.

Buffalo State’s 2-1 mark in round-robin play earned them a berth in the Gold Medal Bracket, where they met Fredonia in the opening contest. The Blue Devils outlasted the Bengals by scores of 22-30, 30-22, 31-33 and 24-30. Jen Breier (Grand Island/Grand Island) and Manos each recorded 15 kills and Jedynak claimed 21 digs.

The Bengals faced another familiar opponent in the tourney’s final match, falling in three games against Geneseo, 29-31, 22-30 and 26-30. Jedynak was again impressive in the backcourt with 20 digs, and Lindsay McKenrick (Alden/Alden) recorded four kills and nine digs off the bench.

Buffalo State is now 3-7 on the season.

What’s Next?

The Bengals will travel to the North Country Invitational this Friday and Saturday in Canton, NY on the campuses of Potsdam and Clarkson.

With Honors…

Buffalo State senior setter Krista Wierzbicki (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) was named to the Cortland Red Dragon Classic All-Tournament Team with the second consecutive year.

WOMEN’S SOCCER (2-1) – Bengals Slit Pair at Dickinson Invitational

Buffalo State traveled to Carlisle, PA, this past weekend and returned with a 1-1 mark following a victory in the consolation game of the Dickinson Invitational.

Buffalo State faced Frostburg to open the tournament on Saturday, and fell to the two-time defending Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference champions, 5-1. The Bobcats took 2-0 lead with goals in the 17th and 41st minutes, but Buffalo State cut the deficit to one when Katie Zariczy (Great Valley/Ellicottville) scored her first goal of the season with just five seconds to play in the half. Frostburg would prove to be too much in the second stanza, however, as the Bobcats poured in three more goals to send the Bengals to the consolation game.

The Bengals rebounded to defeat DeSales on Sunday by a 2-1 margin. Christina Semertzides (Wappinger Falls/Roy C. Ketchum) scored a goal and an assist for Buffalo State, and Jessica Kessler (North Rose/North Rose-Wolcott) connected for her first collegiate goal as the game-winner.

Buffalo State improved its record to 2-1.

Who’s Next?

Buffalo State will travel to RIT on Wednesday at 4 p.m. for its only action of this week.

MEN’S SOCCER (1-2) - Bengals Lose 1-0 Decision Against Daemen

Buffalo State lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Daemen College last Tuesday at Amherst High School.

The Wildcats scored the only goal of the contest in the 12th minute. The Bengals would not be able to score despite having a few quality chances in the final 15 minutes of regulation. Junior goalkeeper Kam Hughes (Buffalo/Performing Arts) registered three saves in the loss. Daemen outshot Buffalo State 12-8.

Who’s Next?

The Bengals’ next game will be a non-conference home tilt against Nazareth College on Tuesday at 4:00 pm at Coyer Field.

Leading the Pack…

Junior forward Brian Miller (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) leads the team in points with five (two goals, one assist) and freshman goaltender Shawn McDonnell (West Seneca/West Seneca East) leads the team in saves with 10.







Media Contact:
Jeffrey Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu