BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State men's soccer team kicked-off their 2024 season with a 2-0 win over Elmira in the Fred Hartrick Classic tonight under the lights of Coyer Field.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 2, Elmira – 0
LOCATION: Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 1-0-0 (0-0-0 SUNYAC), Elmira: 0-1-0 (0-0-0 Empire 8)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- Diego Rivera (East Meadow, NY/Cairo Durham) scored on a penalty for his first goal of the season.
- Adam Webster (York, England/Woldgate College) scored his first goal as a Bengal.
- Joseph Desmonie (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) picked up an assist while Shae Wirt (Overland Park, KS/St. Thomas Aquinas) made four saves to earn the clean sheet.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both sides played to a stalemate for much of the first half until Elmira committed a yellow card with just under 30 seconds remaining.
- Rivera lined up and nailed his penalty kick to give the Bengals the early lead.
- Buffalo State remained aggressive on offense but couldn't add on early in the second half.
- The Bengals finally broke through as Desmonie sent a perfect pass to Webster to tap right in for another Buffalo State goal.
- The Soaring Eagles offense pushed in the final minutes but could not find any success.
- Buffalo State outshot Elmira with a 16-8 margin.
FOR THE FOES
- Daniel Mercedes led the Soaring Eagles with three shots on goal.
- Juan Carlos Cruz Gandia made six saves in the effort.
UP NEXT
The Bengals will battle Mount Aloysius tomorrow for day two of the Fred Hartrick Classic.