BUFFALO, NY – The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) announced its 2025 men's soccer all-conference team today, recognizing eight Buffalo State team members in
Diego Rivera (East Meadow, NY/Cairo Durham),
Salvador Gomes (Lisbon, Portugal/Colegio de S. Thomas),
Lesedi Sekhobo (Albany, NY/Shaker),
Sam Gregson (Anglesey Wales, Ysgol David Hughes),
Tapiwa Mushonga (Johannesburg, South Africa/Hilton College),
Carson Smith (Big Flats, NY/Horseheads),
Jay Kitcher (Newcastle, Australia/St. Phillips Christian), and
Matthew Stasyuk (Syracuse, NY/Marcellus). In addition, Rivera earned his second straight Huntley Parker Offensive Player of the Year Award and Sekhobo was named the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year.
Rivera earns his third First Team All-SUNYAC selection following a historic season for the Bengals. Rivera led the conference and the country in points (60) and goals (26) which are both the most in a single season in program history. Rivera is also the first Bengal to win Offensive Player of the Year twice in his career (Bass Sarr earned the honor in 2016) and was also named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.
Joining Rivera on First Team All-SUNYAC is Gomes for a second straight year. Gomes was part of stellar backline for the Bengals that posted ten shutouts across 20 games played. Gomes also added a pair of goals and a pair of assists.
Sekhobo finishes a strong freshman campaign with Rookie of the Year honors and a Second Team All-SUNYAC selection. Sekhobo posted a 12 point season with four goals and four assists while playing in all 20 games with 14 starts. Sekhobo is also the third player in program history to earn Rookie of the Year honors, joining Theo Pencic in 2018 and Abdi Salim in 2019.
Also earning Second Team All-SUNYAC for Buffalo State was Gregson, Mushonga, and Smith.
Gregson and Mushonga each earn All-SUNYAC for a second straight season. Gregson scored five goals with an assist while Mushonga added three goals and three assists and was also part of the dominant Bengals' back line. Mushonga was also named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.
Smith earns Second Team All-SUNYAC in his first season with Buffalo State. The junior transfer started in all but one game for the Bengals making 55 saves with a 0.63 goals against average, a .821 save percentage and nine shutouts. Smith was also named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.
Rounding out the Bengals All-SUNYAC Team is Kitcher and Stasyuk earning Third Team recognition. In his first season with the Bengals, Kitcher was a staple of the Buffalo State lineup playing in 16 games with 13 starts as a midfielder. Stasyuk also earns his first All-SUNYAC pick after tallying a goal and three assists. Stasyuk also played a crucial role on the Buffalo State defensive unit that was one of the best in the conference.
The Bengals finished the season with a record of 13-2-5 (5-0-4 SUNYAC) as they reached the SUNYAC Championship for a second straight year. Following their semifinal win over Fredonia, the Bengals reached the conference championship hosting Oneonta, before falling 2-1.
