BUFFALO, NY – Goals were plentiful on Sunday afternoon, but despite pulling to within one goal, Buffalo State (1-5) dropped a close 4-3 game against No. 19 St. Lawrence at Coyer Field.
The game got out to a quick start as St. Lawrence scored the first goal just over one minute into play. The Saints Dan Hunt collected the ball off a shot that had been deflected by a Buffalo State defender and sent it rifling into the far right post.
Not long after, the Bengals answered the Saints back. Sophomore Joe Vucic (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) received a great pass through the defense from senior Francesco Cardillo (Tonawanda, NY/St. Thomas Aquinas (ON)) and nailed a shot to the far left corner of the net past the Saints diving goalkeeper.
The Bengals nearly took the lead midway through the first half on a breakaway. Freshman Bryan Daigler (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) got past the St. Lawrence defense, but the goalkeeper came up big as he stole the ball. Fellow freshman Tristan Myers (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) managed to get a piece of the ball right after, but sent the shot just wide of the net.
With 5:56 left to play in the first half, the Saints regained the lead, scoring after a ball was collected off a save by freshman goalkeeper Hunter Hein (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) and sent right back past him.
Buffalo State almost tied things back up with a minute left, but Daigler's shot hit the crossbar and bounced back out to the Saints goalkeeper.
In the second half, the Bengals once again came close to tying the game, firing three quick shots off to open things up. However, the Saints goalkeeper came up with some big saves and senior Matt Wong (Coventry, England/Binswood Sixth Form) hit the post, keeping St. Lawrence ahead.
The Saints pushed their lead out to two at 57:54 after finishing off a failed header and putting a shot right above Bengal goalkeeper Robby Kuhnle (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington) who had stepped in for Buffalo State halftime.
Vucic tallied his second goal of the game and cut the Saints lead back down to one with a great shot on a breakaway at 61:38.
With 13:45 left to play in regulation, St. Lawrence added a fourth goal. Chandler Short's shot bounced off the cross bar and into the back of the net.
Less than two minutes later, the Bengals responded once again to cut the Saints lead back down to one. Freshman Alex Cassells (New Malden, England/Working College) tallied his first goal of the season with a header off of a corner kick into the top right corner of the goal.
The St. Lawrence defense held strong in the final minutes of the game and did not allow the Bengals a single shot.
Despite being outshot 21-14, the Bengals stayed even with the Saints in shots on goal with nine. The teams were also even in corner kicks with three each.
Hein recorded the loss in goal for the Bengals, finishing with three saves and three goals against. Kuhnle finished the game with two goals allowed and two saves.
Buffalo State returns to action on Thursday, Sept. 18 at home for a 5 p.m. matchup against D'Youville.
