When Buffalo State‘s men‘s soccer players saw the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) playoff bracket that included their school‘s name for just the second time in 20 years, several players had one similar concern.

“Will we be able to vote?”

As the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament, the Buffalo State‘s quarterfinal game will be at third-seeded New Paltz on November 2 at 1 p.m, making it impossible for the Bengals‘ players to get to the polls.

“Several players asked me if there was anything we could do,” said fifth-year Head Coach Rudy Pompert. “It is important to them to have the opportunity to take part in the election process and perform their civic duty.”

After making a couple of phone calls, Coach Pompert was able to arrange for the Bengals to have the opportunity to vote prior to “Election Day”. Buffalo State will go as a team to the Erie County Board of Elections office at 134 West Eagle Street on Wednesday, October 27 at 3 p.m. and cast their votes.

“We were concerned that we were not going to have a chance to get out and vote,” said junior forward Richard Namulala. “It is definitely important to us that we get to play our part in the election.”

Buffalo State, making its first postseason appearance since 1998 and second since 1984, will face New Paltz for the right to go to the SUNYAC Final Four in Oneonta, NY on November 5 and 6. Buffalo State won at New Paltz, 2-1, on September 18 in the only other meeting between the two teams this season.