SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIP – #5 SUNY ONEONTA RED DRAGONS AT #2 BUFFALO STATE BENGALS
Saturday, November 8, 2025 – 3:00 PM
Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY
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TICKET INFORMATION
LIVE STATS
VIDEO (OFFICIAL SUNYAC BROADCAST)
LAST TIME OUT… In their SUNYAC semifinal matchup, the Buffalo State men's soccer team defeated the Fredonia Blue Devils, 2–0, to clinch an appearance in the SUNYAC Championship.
THE MATCHUP… The Buffalo State Bengals advance to their second consecutive SUNYAC Championship game and will host the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons on Coyer Field.
After defeating their "Battle by the Lake" rival, Fredonia, the Bengals now aim to capture their first SUNYAC title since 1970.
Dating back to 2017, this matchup marks the 20
th meeting between the programs. The Bengals enter with a 1-0-2 record across the last three meetings, though the Red Dragons own a 13-2-4 advantage in the modern series.
This marks the Bengals' seventh appearance in the SUNYAC Championship, including last year's loss to Cortland. Head coach
Francesco Cardillo looks to deliver the program's first title since the late, legendary Fred Hartrick guided the Bengals to the 1970 crown.
Oneonta, meanwhile, has reached the SUNYAC Playoffs in each of the last six seasons, including a 2023 championship appearance where they fell to Cortland.
The winner of Saturday's matchup will claim the SUNYAC Championship and secure the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
LAST TIME WE MET… In the most recent meeting between the two sides, the Bengals earned a 1-1 draw.
Lesedi Sekhobo (Albany, NY/Shaker) scored the Bengals' lone goal, assisted by
Alik Stasyuk (Syracuse, NY/Marcellus).
Carson Smith (Big Flats, NY/Horseheads) made six saves in net.
The Bengals outshot the Red Dragons 16-11, with 12 shots on goal. Sekhobo opened the scoring in the 15th minute with his fourth goal of the year, but Oneonta's Zach Tanner equalized later in the first half. Despite generating multiple chances down the stretch, the Bengals were held off the board by clutch goalkeeping from the Red Dragons.
THE BENGAL BREAKDOWN… Entering at 13-1-5 overall (5-0-4 SUNYAC), the Bengals have just one goal in mind…
WIN. After suffering heartbreak in last year's championship on their home turf, Buffalo State has the opportunity to erase that memory and bring home the program's first SUNYAC title since 1970, while also securing the athletic department's first SUNYAC championship in any sport since 2016.
WHAT A SEASON… The record-breaking season of senior forward
Diego Rivera (East Meadow, NY/Cairo Durham) continues to build. Rivera enters the championship leading all NCAA Division III players in both goals and points. With two goals on Saturday, he would tie the SUNYAC Tournament record for most goals in a single postseason.
DEFENSIVE STALEMATE… Junior goalkeeper
Carson Smith has been a rock for the Bengals all season. His nine shutouts sit one shy of tying the program record for most in a single season. Smith can also tie the SUNYAC Tournament record for fewest goals allowed with another clean sheet on Saturday.
RESEARCHING THE RED DRAGONS… No. 5 SUNY Oneonta will make its second SUNYAC Championship appearance in the last three seasons after a dramatic 3-3 (4-3 PK) semifinal win over No. 1 Cortland.
The Red Dragons closed the regular season at 11-4-4 (5-2-2 SUNYAC), scoring 43 goals overall, 19 in conference play, while conceding just five goals during SUNYAC action.
Offensively, Tommy Kliampas led Oneonta with 16 points (three goals, eight assists), while Sam Rogers added 16 points of his own (six goals, four assists). In goal, James Cintron started every match, posting an .800 save percentage and allowing 15 goals all season.
With a win over Buffalo State, Oneonta would claim its first SUNYAC Championship since 2022.
SCHEDULES/RESULTS…
#5 SUNY ONEONTA RED DRAGONS: 11-4-4 (5-2-2 SUNYAC)
#2 BUFFALO STATE BENGALS: 13-1-5 (5-0-4 SUNYAC)
