Recapping events from Monday, September 15 - Sunday, September 21

FOOTBALL (1-2) – Bengals Work Overtime for First Win of Season

Buffalo State grabbed its first win of the season on Saturday, as it came from behind to defeat visiting Albion 21-14 in overtime. Buffalo State racked up 418 total yards on 93 plays, compared to Albion’s 49 plays for 200 yards.

Albion drove down the field on its opening possession, using just seven plays to travel 80 yards, and took a 7-0 lead on a Dustin Louwaert two-yard run. Buffalo State evened the score at 7-7 with 18 seconds remaining when quarterback Mike Mikolaichik (Hilton/Hilton) hit HT Williams (Syracuse/Christian Bros.) with a 17-yard touchdown strike.

Albion broke the deadlock when Andy Kocoloski reeled in a 45-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mike Gough with 48 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The Bengals rallied to tie the score again, at 14-14, with just 28 seconds remaining. Patrick Moore (Livingston/York) caught a four-yard pass from Mikolaichik to cap off 49-yard 14-play drive.

Buffalo State started the overtime with the ball and drove 25-yards in five plays, culminating in a Mikolaichik eight-yard quarterback keeper. The Bengals defense forced an incomplete pass on fourth-and-six on the ensuing Briton possession to preserve the 21-14 victory.

Tailback Curtis Hathcock (Buffalo/Bennett) drove the Bengals offense all day, carrying the ball 37 times for a career-high 186 yards and also had three catches for 16 yards. Mikolaichik was 26-for-40 for 189 yards with two touchdowns in his first win as a starter. Marc Hoppy (Depew/Depew) caught seven balls for 51 yards. Michael Holbok (Buffalo/St. Joe’s) led the Bengals on defense with nine tackles, including six for losses and two sacks.

Gough was just 8-for-22 for 95 yards for the Britons, while Louwaert ran for 61 yards on 15 carries. Kocoloski was Albion’s leading receiver with three catches for 65 yards. Dan Bukowski and Glen Brittich each recorded 15 tackles for Albion.

Who’s Next?

Buffalo State will travel to Cortland this Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.

CROSS COUNTRY – Bengals Fair Well at Hobart/William Smith

Buffalo State's cross country teams competed at the Hobart/William Smith Invitational on Saturday, and both the men's and women's teams placed second of seven teams.

AJ Walsh (Hamburg/Frontier) paced the men's team finishing second of 47 runners with a time of 26:55. Dan Hargrove (Dansville/Dansville) finished eighth in 29:10, and Matt Kubiak (Lakeview/Frontier) crossed just behind him in ninth in 29:13. James Howze (Amherst/Sweet Home) and Josh Demars (Fulton/G. Ray Bodley) rounded out the Bengals top-five, finishing 11th (29:31) and 14th (30:06) respectively.

Aleksandra Halin (Clarence/Clarence) led the women's squad, finishing sixth of 56 runners in 23:48. Jennifer Vacanti (Niagara Falls/Niagara Wheatfield) grabbed the 11th spot in 24:23, edging out Nikki Van Hoesen (Stamford/Stamford) who placed 12th with a time of 24:34. Tiffany Knarr (East Aurora/Iroquois) finished 14th in 24:40, and Kristen Bijak (Orchard Park/Orchard Park) placed 16th in 25:02.

What’s Next?

Both teams will be back in action this Saturday at the Cortland Double Dip Challenge.

VOLLEYBALL (8-12) – Bengals Post 2-2 Mark at RIT Invite, Fall at Nazareth

Buffalo State was defeated by nationally-ranked Nazareth on Tuesday, and went 2-2 at the RIT Invitational on the weekend.

Buffalo State visited Nazareth on Tuesday, and the No. 29 team in the nation handed the Bengals a loss by scores of 17-30, 22-30 and 20-30. Vicky Manos (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) recorded nine kills and seven digs in the loss for Buffalo State. Denise Jedynak (Hamburg/Frontier) added 21 digs and Krista Wierzbicki (Cheektowaga/Maryvalegs. Sam Damstetter (W. Seneca/W. Seneca East) chipped in 10 digs.

Buffalo State opened the RIT Invitational with a 3-0 loss against the host school, 27-30, 15-30 and 16-30. Wierzbicki registered 25 assists and five digs, and Keri Bumgardner (Babylon/West Babylon) added six kills in the loss.

In the nightcap, Buffalo State faced a familiar opponent in Clarkson, a team that beat the Bengals twice last weekend. This time, it was Buffalo State that emerged with the 3-0 victory, 30-24, 30-23 and 30-25. Wierzbicki had another strong match with 33 assists and 10 digs, and Damstetter recorded seven kills and 11 digs.

Lindsay McKenrick (Alden/Alden) recorded four kills, four assists and seven digs off the bench in the opener, as the Bengals downed Potsdam 30-11, 30-15 and 10-20. In the second match, Fredonia won 30-27, 27-30, 30-27 and 30-25, despite Wierzbicki's 50 assists. Jedynak registered 27 digs, and Manos had 21 kills and six blocks.

What’s Next?

Buffalo State will compete in the first round of SUNYAC Pool Play this Friday at Saturday at Oswego.

WOMEN’S SOCCER (2-4/0-2) – Bengals Start Slow in SUNYAC Play

Buffalo State dropped a pair of games to open the SUNYAC portion of its schedule this weekend, falling at Geneseo and Brockport.

Buffalo State returned from Geneseo Saturday on the losing end of a 4-0 decision. The Blue Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead early, scoring both goals in the first 12 minutes of play. Geneseo would build on their lead in the second half, scoring goals in the 63rd and 89th minute of the contest. The Bengals were outshot 32-6 in the game. Junior goaltender Jessica Bingerman (Great Valley/Ellicottville) had nine saves for the Bengals.

Buffalo State's women's soccer team was shutout by a conference opponent for the second straight day on Sunday, as it lost 6-0 at Brockport. The Golden Eagles peppered the Bengals with 25 shots, and Buffalo State could only muster five attempts at the Brockport goal. Bingerman made six saves for the Bengals.

Buffalo State is now 2-4 overall and 0-2 in SUNYAC play.

Who’s Next ?

The Bengals will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Daemen at 4:00 p.m. for their only game of the week.

MEN’S SOCCER (1-5-1/0-2) – Bengals Record Winless Week

Buffalo State tied Medaille to open the week, but fell to Geneseo and Brockport the open the SUNYAC schedule on the weekend.

Buffalo State scored a goal in the 88th minute to tie Medaille in the rain on Monday at Coyer Field, and neither team could break the 2-2 deadlock in overtime. Brian Miller (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) scored both of the Bengals’ goals, and Dennis Behrens (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield) had a pair of assists. Medaille outshot the Bengals 16-15 for the game, and 6-1 in overtime.

Buffalo State dropped a 2-1 home decision to SUYNAC opponent Geneseo on Saturday. The Blue Knights opened the scoring in the first half when Brian Amick scored a break-away goal against Bengal goaltender Shawn McDonnell (West Seneca, West Seneca East). Amick scored again in the 59th minute to expand the Blue Knight’s lead to two goals. The Bengals clawed their way back into the game after freshman Casey Cushing (Fabius/Fabius Pompey) found the back of the net with an assist from forward Rich Namulala (Kenmore, Kenmore West). The Bengals would not be able to get another goal despite applying heavy pressure in the final minutes. The Bengals were outshot 11-8. McDonnell registered four saves in the loss.

Buffalo State fell to 1-5-1 and 0-2 in the SUNYAC Sunday as it lost to Brockport, 3-1, in a physical game that saw a combined 42 fouls. The Golden Eagles opened the scoring in the 13th minute and then added the eventual game-winner 15 minutes later. The Bengals pulled to within one at 33:19, when Jon Lewis (Newport, ort goalkeeper on a penalty kick. Brockport dashed any hopes the Bengals held for a comeback in at 88:51, when it closed out the game's scoring. Brockport outshot Buffalo State 19-5. Bengals' goalie McDonell made eight saves in the loss.

Who’s Next?

Buffalo State will travel to RIT on Wednesday and will host Elmira on Saturday in a pair of non-conference games.