BEREA, OH – Visiting Cortland scored the game-winning goal early in the third period, and hung on for a 5-4 victory over the Buffalo State men's hockey team in SUNYAC action on Sunday evening.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Eastern Mennonite – 3, Buffalo State – 2
SET SCORES: 25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 23-25, 18-16
LOCATION: Ursprung Gymnasium – Berea, OH
RECORDS: Eastern Mennonite (3-0), Buffalo State (0-2)
 
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Jake Woelfel (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca West) broke his own program record with 20 kills. He also tallied 13 digs.
• Kaden Strong (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca East) had a career-high 12 kills.
• Hayden McCue (Fairport, NY/Fairport) had four blocks.  
• Alex Nuez (Paterson, NJ/Eastside) led the Bengals with 14 digs.
• Jackson Stang (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home) had 47 assists to lead Buffalo State.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• With Eastern Mennonite leading 11-9 early in the first set, the Royals won four straight points to open up a six-point lead. The Bengals eventually closed the gap to 23-21, but the Royals closed out the set by winning two of the final three points.
• Trailing 15-14 in the second set, highlighted by kills from McCue and Woelfel, and an ace by Gavin Wilczewski (Elma, NY/East Aurora).
• The Bengals eventually took the set thanks to back-to-back kills by Strong and Wilczewski.
• The Royals jumped out to an 18-12 lead in the third set, and although the Bengals pulled to within three, Eastern Mennonite was able to earn the set victory.
• With the score tied at 23-23, the Bengals won the final two points to force a fifth set.
• The Bengals fought off two match points in the fifth set, and were unable to convert one match point of their own, before the Royals were able to close out the match at 18-16.

UP NEXT
The Bengals are off next weekend, before hosting the Program Home Opener on Wednesday, January 31^st at 7 pm.