BUFFALO, N.Y.—Top-seeded Buffalo State dominated visiting No. 4 Plattsburgh from the opening whistle and raced to a 4-1 victory in today's SUNYAC semifinal at Coyer Field, earning its way into the title game for the first time since 1984.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 4, Plattsburgh - 1
LOCATION:  Coyer Field – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS:  Buffalo State (15-3-1), Plattsburgh (12-6-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Melissa Smith (N. Tonawanda/Niagara-Wheatfield) scored twice for Buffalo State, and Meghan Allen (Big Flats/Corning East) added a goal and an assist.
• Victoria Colotti (New Windsor/Newburgh Free) also scored for the Bengals.
• Buffalo State had a point blank opportunity that was stopped just over a minute into the game, but still struck early, converting another Alexis Carillo (Pine Bush/Pine Bush) flip throw into a goal, when Colotti received the toss and quickly deposited it in the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season
• Another Carillo flip throw set up the Bengals second goal in the 31^st minute, when Plattsburgh committed a foul in the box trying to defend the chance.  Smith made no mistake on the penalty kick.
• Buffalo State rang a shot off the cross bar just before halftime, but wasted little time in the second stanza, pushing the lead to 3-0 in the 50^th minute on another penalty kick.  This time it was Allen converting for her sixth of the season after the goalkeeper took her down in the box while chasing a loose ball.
• Allen and Smith combined to put the game out of reach in the 56th minute.  Allen sent Smith in alone on the keeper with a through ball, and Smith slipped it home for her second of the game and 10^th of the season. 
• Plattsburgh finally generated its first scoring chance with a long shot off the crossbar in the 84^th minute, and then broke through, converting on a two-on-one in the 87^th minute. 
• Buffalo State outshot the Cardinals, 26-5, for the game, including 17-0 in the first half.
• The Bengals also earned nine corner kicks, with eight in the first half, compared to none by the Cardinals.
• Freshman goalkeeper Erica Knudsen (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) did not need to make a single save to secure her eighth win of the season.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Kelly Siry scored Plattsburgh's lone goal with an assist from Anissa Hartmann.
• Nicole Gibson made six saves in goal.

 
NOTEWORTHY

• Buffalo State extended its school record unbeaten streak to 15 games (14-0-1) and improved its school standard for wins in a season to 15.
• Today's win marked the first-ever official postseason victory for Buffalo State.  The Bengals had previously tied three times and twice advanced after winning the penalty kick shootout.
• The Bengals will host the SUNYAC title game for the first time in school history.  Buffalo State is making its second-ever appearance in the championship game and first since 1984, when there was only a two-team playoff format.  Buffalo State tied Cortland 4-4 in that game, but lost in the penalty kick shootout.

 
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will host No. 2 Oneonta in the title game this weekend.  The game is tentatively scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m., but that is subject to change as Buffalo State is also scheduled to host a football game against Ithaca at the same time, also on Coyer Field.  Oneonta defeated No. 6 Oswego, 2-1 earlier today to secure its spot in the championship game.  The winner of the title game will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA playoffs.