BUFFALO, NY— Erin Valente (Latham, NY/Shaker) scored the game-winning goal for the Buffalo State women's soccer team in a thrilling 1-0 double-overtime victory over  Hilbert on Tuesday night at Coyer Field.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 1, Hilbert – 0
LOCATION:  Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS:  Buffalo State (3-13-0), Hilbert (2-8-1)
 
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Macey Gioeli (N. Tonawanda, NY/N. Tonawanda) had four shots on goal, while Valente added three shots on goal to lead the Bengals.
• Sarah Berlinger (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) picked up the assist on the winning goal.
•  Samantha Kaufman (Cheektowaga, NY/West Seneca East) made one save in goal to pick up her first career shutout and first career victory.
• The Bengals outshot Hilbert 21-5, and held a 9-1 advantage in shots on goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the 16^th minute, Gioeli blasted a shot from just outside the penalty box, but the Hilbert goalkeeper was able to tip it just over the crossbar.
• Alexis Hults (Schenevus, NY/Schenevus) headed the ensuing corner just high.
• In the 32^nd minute, Valente played Gioeli in on goal with a through ball, but the shot was saved well by the keeper.
• The Bengals had ten shot attempts in the first half, but nothing to show for them.
• In the 57^th minute, Gioeli created another opportunity for herself, taking the ball down the left sideline, cutting inside and curling a shot just inside the post that the keeper managed to smother.  
• The Bengals' best two chances of regulation came in the 71^st minute, when the goalkeeper dove to stop Valente from dribbling around her on a breakaway. Moments later, Gioeli rang a right-footed shot off the crossbar.
•  The Bengals squandered another chanced from a dangerous area when Hults sent a free kick over the net in the 73^rd minute.
• The final ten minutes of regulation and in the first overtime period, neither team was able to generate any real scoring threat.
• In the first minute of the second overtime, Valente hit the right post off of a cross, and the follow-up shot was blocked by a Hilbert defender.
• Just when the match seemed destined for a tie, Berlinger made a strong run down the left side and made a perfect pass to a sprinting Valente, who slotted a left-footed shot past the sliding goalkeeper for the victory with two minutes and thirty-one seconds left in the game.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Tahlia Kosek made eight saves for the Hawks in a losing effort.
   

UP NEXT
The Bengals host their final two matches of the regular season this weekend. Buffalo State takes on Geneseo on Friday afternoon, and wrap up the season against Brockport on Saturday afternoon at Coyer Field.