Buffalo State earned the second-seed and will host No. 3 Oswego in the first-ever Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) semifinals this Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Buffalo State Ice Arena.
 
The Bengals finished the regular season 13-10-2 overall and 9-6-1 in their first season in the newly-formed NEWHL.   Senior Erin Gehen (W. Seneca, NY/W. Seneca West) leads Buffalo State's offense with 12 goals and 18 points.  Gehen is the school's all-time leading scorer with 54 goals and 41 assists for 95 points in 103 career games.  Senior Rachel Lenard (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) is second on the team in scoring with eight goals and 17 points.  Another senior Justine Silva (El Monte, CA/Arroyo) has been a key contributor between the pipes this season, posting a 1.76 goals against average and a .937 save percentage and is on pace to own nearly every single season and career goaltending record at Buffalo State.
 
Buffalo State claimed three of four meetings with Oswego this season.  The Lakers won the first contest on home ice by a 3-0 count, but Buffalo State won the next three, including the final two at home, by scores of 2-1, 4-1 and 2-0.
 
The NEWHL is an offshoot of the Bengals' former conference the ECAC West which Buffalo State joined in 2001.  This marks Buffalo State's fifth-consecutive postseason appearance and eighth overall.  The Bengals secured their first-ever postseason victory last season, defeating Potsdam 4-0 at home in the ECAC West quarterfinals, before falling to Elmira in the semifinals.
 
Oswego is 11-12-2 and finished 7-8-1 in league play.  Senior Olivia Ellis leads the Lakers and is fourth in the NEWHL with 23 points including eight goals.  Six other Oswego players have 10 or more points this season.  Senior goalie Mariah Madrigal has a .911 save percentage and a 2.07 goals against average.
 
The other NEWHL semifinal pits No. 1 Plattsburgh against No. 4 Potsdam.  The winners will faceoff in the title game on March 3 at the highest remaining seed.
 
Admission is free for Saturday's contest.  If you cannot attend, you can follow all of the action live:
Live Stats:  http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/athletics/hockey/xlive.htm
Live Video: http://www.buffalostateathletics.com/sports/2015/8/20/Boxcaster.aspx