BUFFALO, N.Y.—Buffalo State has posted a record-setting season, but still has more to accomplish as it prepares to host No. 4 Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC Semifinals on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
The Bengals (14-3-1) have already set a school record for wins in a season with 14, breaking the previous mark of 13 set back in 1984. Since starting the season 1-3, the Bengals have gone unbeaten in 14-consecutive games, including going 8-0-1 in league play and capturing their first-ever SUNYAC regular-season title.
Buffalo State ranks third in the SUNYAC, averaging 1.78 goals-per-game. Junior transfer
Melissa Smith (N. Tonawanda/Niagara-Wheatfield) has led the Bengals' offense with eight goals and 22 points. Sophomore
Tianna Hatch (Endicott/Elmira Free) has added seven goals, and senior
Meghan Allen (Big Flats/Corning East) has five goals and 11 points.
The Bengals have also shored up the back end, ranking third in the league in goals against average, surrendering just 0.89 goals-per-game. Buffalo State has conceded only 16 goals in 18 games this season, including allowing nine goals in the first five games, and only seven in the past 13.
Senior captain
Gabrianna Boldinski (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) has led the defensive shutdown efforts as the center back, but has also added offensive punch, scoring four goals.
The goaltending tandem of sophomore
Jessica McCarey (Middletown/Middletown) and freshman
Erica Knudsen (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) have combined to produce nine shutouts, one shy of a school record. McCarey has five shutouts with a 0.68 GAA and a .769 save percentage, while Knudsen has four shutouts with a 1.04 GAA and a .743 save percentage.
Plattsburgh is the league's highest scoring team, averaging 2.15 goals-per-game, and is paced by the conference's leading scorer Anissa Hartmann who has 14 goals in 19 games.
Buffalo State defeated Plattsburgh 2-1 during the regular season at Coyer Field on Oct. 17.
The Bengals are the top-seed and with a victory would host the winner of No. 2 Oneonta/No. 6 Oswego in Saturday's championship game. The Bengals are in search of their first-ever league championship and first appearance in the title game since 1984.
