BUFFALO, NY – Nicholas Bruce (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) of the Buffalo State football team and Manu Prieto (Cascais, Portugal/Salesianos Do Estoril) of the Buffalo State men's soccer team have been named the Bengal Athletes of the Week.

Bruce had a career day for Buffalo State on Saturday against RPI, hauling in 4 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. In the second quarter, the senior receiver got the Bengals on the board, catching a 19-yard touchdown pass over the middle for his first score of the year. He also nabbed a 74-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, beating his defender deep down the left sideline, breaking free from a tackle, and sprinting to the end zone. 

Prieto had a pair of excellent performances for the Bengals in a 2-0 week that included a crucial SUNYAC victory over Plattsburgh on Saturday, recording seven points on two goals and three assists across two games. On Wednesday evening, the forward netted a goal and an assist in a 7-1 win over Alfred University on Senior Night. He sent a through ball to assist the opening Buffalo State goal, and netted with a left-footed shot into the right corner of the net for the Bengals' third goal. Prieto contributed to each of Buffalo State's three goals in a 3-1 win over Plattsburgh on Saturday. After falling behind 1-0, Prieto pulled the Bengals level, sending a low shot into the bottom left corner. He then assisted the game-winning goal with a perfect cross, and recorded an assist on an insurance goal for the Bengals two minutes later.