BUFFALO, NY--Francesco Cardillo (Tonawanda/St. Thomas Aquinas (ON)) scored with three seconds remaining in regulation and then assisted on the game-winner in overtime as host Buffalo State (5-9-1/2-4-1) thrust itself into the SUNYAC playoff conversation with a 2-1 victory over Plattsburgh (8-7-1/3-4) at Coyer Field.
 
After Cardillo's last-second heroics to force the extra period, he set up the winning goal when he sent a 30-yard free kick off the cross bar, and Keegan Lezama (Milton, ON/Bishop Reding) buried the rebound in the back of the net to end the game with just 18 seconds remaining in the first overtime.
 
Plattsburgh opened the game applying early pressure and was awarded a penalty kick just five minutes into the contest, but Hunter Hein (E. Amherst/Clarence) made a diving save on Ethan Votraw's bid.  The Bengals regrouped and pushed the pace of play for much of the rest of the opening period.  Buffalo State's best scoring chance in the opening frame came when Joe Vucic (East Aurora/East Aurora) ripped a 20-yard free kick that Plattsburgh's keeper Mitchell Jordon was able to get just enough of his hand on it to deflect over the cross bar.
 
Plattsburgh had another early opportunity to break the draw in the second half, but a header by Clay Sherman off a corner kick rang off the cross bar.  In the 68th minute, Hein left the game with an injury after being undercut by a Plattsburgh player who was issued a yellow card on the play.
 
The Bengals were unable to sustain consistent offensive pressure into the strong wind, and the Cardinals finally broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute, when Alexis Archilla scored off his own rebound.
 
Plattsburgh stalled down the stretch and it appeared the clock would run out, but the Bengals drew a corner kick in the closing seconds.  Freshman Sam Wasson (Clarence/Clarence) raced to send the bid into the box.  The ball rattled around and then was headed by Devonte Black (Pickering/Notre Dame Catholic) and Cardillo snuck a quick shot just inside the right post with just three ticks remaining on the clock.
 
Shots for the game ended at 12-11 in favor of Plattsburgh.  Hein made six saves in 67 minutes of shutout work, before senior Ian Huntoon (Stamford, CT/West Hill) had one save in relief.
 
Buffalo State will next travel to New Paltz next Friday at 3 p.m.