BUFFALO, NY – Diego Rivera (East Meadow, NY/Cairo Durham) of the Buffalo State men's soccer team and Noah Holden (Clarence Center, NY/Clarence) of the Buffalo State cross country team have earned Bengal Athletes of the Week presented by UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Both also earned SUNYAC Athlete of the Week in their respective sports.
 
Rivera, a senior childhood education major, lead #16 men's soccer to a 2-0 start to the 2025 season. The reigning SUNYAC Player of the Year tallied two goals and an assist to propel the Bengals to wins over NJCU and Geneseo. Rivera tallied a goal in each contest and had an assist on the game-winning goal against the Knights on Saturday.
 
The men's soccer team returns to action this weekend as they will battle Bryant & Stratton and Alfred University in the annual Fredonia Classic.

Holden, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, picked up the win in Buffalo State's season opener at the annual Hilbert Invite with a time of 16:25.3. That mark is the fastest time for a Bengal on a 5K course since at least 2007.
 
The cross country team returns to action on September 20 as they will travel to the Yellowjacket Invite in Rochester.