(BOX SCORE)

FREDONIA, NY—Nick Melligan (Sanborn, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) netted the game-winner with less than five minutes to play as Buffalo State (12-11-2/8-6-1) locked up the third-seed in the SUNYAC playoffs in a 3-2 victory in the regular-season finale tonight at Fredonia (11-11-3/6-7-3).

Trevor McKinney (Oakwood, ON/Sinclair) and Drew Klin (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) also scored for the Bengals, and Eric Bajc (Gasport, NY/Cedarcrest PA) picked up a pair of assists, including setting up the game-winner.

After Fredonia opened the scoring just 1:59 into the game, McKinney evened the score with his 16th midway through the first period with a power-play marker.  Klin's 11th, also on the power play, gave the Bengals the lead with the only goal of the second stanza, before Fredonia knotted the game at 2-2 just 1:28 into the third.  Melligan put the Bengals back on top with his seventh goal of his rookie campaign.

Both teams fired 30 shots each on the opposition's goal.  Kevin Carr (Unionville, ON/Unionville) made 28 saves for Buffalo State to preserve the win. 

The Bengals finished 2 for 4 on the power play, and killed all seven Fredonia opportunities with the man-advantage.

Buffalo State will open the playoffs on Wednesday at home at 7 p.m.  The Bengals will host the No. 6 seed which will be either Potsdam or Brockport.