SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS – #6 FREDONIA BLUE DEVILS AT #2 BUFFALO STATE BENGALS
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 – 2:00 PM
Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY
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VIDEO (OFFICIAL SUNYAC BROADCAST)
LAST TIME OUT… In their final matchup of the 2025 regular season, the Bengals drew with #21 Hobart College, 0-0, on the road.
Aney Djadou (Buffalo, NY/Amherst) led the Bengals with two shots on goal, while
Carson Smith (Big Flats, NY/Horseheads) made four saves in goal in the effort.
THE MATCHUP… For the third consecutive year, the Buffalo State Bengals have clinched a spot in the SUNYAC Playoffs, earning a first-round bye for the second straight season. Finishing the 2025 regular season as the No. 2 seed, the Bengals gained an extra week of rest and preparation before hosting their "Battle by the Lake" rival, the No. 6 seed Fredonia Blue Devils, in the semifinals.
This marks the 37
th all-time meeting between the two programs. Buffalo State enters the matchup riding a seven-game win streak over Fredonia and looks to extend it to eight straight. The Bengals hold an 8-1-1 record against the Blue Devils in their last 10 meetings, though Fredonia maintains the overall series advantage since 1990, leading 25-8-3.
The Bengals are making their ninth SUNYAC Tournament appearance in the past 10 seasons. Under head coach
Francesco Cardillo, Buffalo State has reached the postseason in every eligible season but one, advancing to the SUNYAC Semifinals for the fifth time in his tenure (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025).
Meanwhile, Fredonia returns to SUNYAC postseason play for the first time since 2016, also marking its first semifinal berth since that year. The winner of Wednesday's semifinal will advance to the SUNYAC Championship Game, set for Saturday, November 8 at 1:00 p.m., against the winner of the Oneonta–Cortland matchup.
LAST TIME WE MET… In their last 'Battle by the Lake' matchup, the Bengals earned a 2-1 victory over the Blue Devils.
Diego Rivera (East Meadow, NY/Cairo Durham) picked up a goal and an assist to lead the offense, with
Lesedi Sekhobo (Albany, NY/Shaker) also scoring for the Bengals. In net,
Carson Smith (Big Flats, NY/Horseheads) made a trio of saves. With the win, head coach
Francesco Cardillo earned his 81st career win which moves him passed Rudy Pompert on the all-time wins list. Cardillo currently sits second to Buffalo State Hall of Fame member Fred Hartrick who has 150 career wins.
Sekhobo got the scoring started for the Bengals netting his third goal of the season off a pass from Rivera, but the Blue Devils came out the halftime break, finding the back of the net less than two minutes into the action to even the score at 1-1. Rivera gave the Bengals the lead and eventually the win on a penalty kick opportunity.
THE BENGAL BREAKDOWN…At 12-1-5 overall (5-0-4 SUNYAC), the Bengals enter the tournament aiming for their first back-to-back appearance in the SUNYAC Championship game, with a chance to capture their first conference title since 1970.
UNLEASHING RECORDS…Senior forward
Diego Rivera (East Meadow, NY/Cairo Durham) has rewritten the Buffalo State record book this season. Rivera finished the regular season with 25 goals and eight assists, breaking the single-season goal record of 24 set by Mike Rudney in 1999. He also surpassed Rudney's single-season points record, posting 58 points to Rudney's 55.
In addition, Rivera's career totals of 59 goals and 139 points set new program records for the most goals and points in a three-year career, surpassing the marks of 41 goals and 102 points previously held by Theo Pencic.
BACK-TO-BACK…In addition to their championship aspirations, the Bengals have now recorded back-to-back seasons with 50 or more team goals. Last season's squad scored 57, while this year's group has netted 50 through regular season play.
DEFENSIVE STALEMATE…The Bengals' defense has been a major strength throughout the campaign. The team's 10 goals allowed are the fewest in the past 12 years and, if it holds, would tie the program record for the fewest goals conceded in a single season.
RESEARCHING THE BLUE DEVILS… No. 6 Fredonia will make its first appearance in the SUNYAC Semifinals since 2016, following a 1-0 first-round victory over No. 3 Plattsburgh State.
The Blue Devils closed the regular season with an 8-6-4 overall record (4-4-1 SUNYAC), scoring 32 total goals, 15 coming in conference play, while conceding 20 goals, including just eight in SUNYAC competition.
Offensively, Chance LaCroix led the Blue Devils with 18 points (five goals and eight assists), while Freddie Butler followed with 12 points (five goals and two assists).
In goal, Thomas McDonald handled the bulk of the starts, posting a .809 save percentage while allowing 17 goals on the season.
With a win over the Bengals, Fredonia would advance to the SUNYAC Championship for the first time since 2007, when the Blue Devils defeated Plattsburgh State, 0-0 (2OT), 4-2 in penalty kicks.
Coaches Corner… Head coach
Francesco Cardillo shared his thoughts ahead of the postseason matchup: "We're excited to be back in the SUNYAC semifinals," Cardillo said. "Our goal is to get back to the finals, but we know it's going to be a tough battle against Fredonia. Our first matchup was a great game, and I'm expecting more of the same. We're looking forward to it."
SCHEDULES/RESULTS…
BUFFALO STATE BENGALS: 12-1-5 (5-0-4 SUNYAC)
FREDONIA BLUE DEVILS: 8-6-4 (4-4-1 SUNYAC)
