BUFFALO — Top-seeded and nationally 18th-ranked Buffalo State netted a pair of early goals and cruised to its second-consecutive SUNYAC championship game appearance, defeating visiting No. 4 Plattsburgh 2-0 in a conference semifinal match today at Coyer Field.
Plattsburgh applied a touch of early pressure, but Buffalo State opened the scoring in just the ninth minute when Tianna Hatch (Endicott/Elmira Free Acad.) one-touched a deflected pass from Jada Sargeant (Camillus/Marcellus) into the back of the net for her eighth goal of the season. The Bengals continued to control play from there and extended their lead in the 29th minute. Jenna Smolinski (Hamburg/Hamburg) stole the ball near midfield and sent a long through ball that was tracked down by Melissa Smith (N. Tonawanda/Niagara Wheatfield) who chipped it past the charging keeper for her league-best 14th tally of the year. Buffalo State closed the first half with a 10-2 advantage in shots and continue to control play for the bulk of the second half, finishing the contest outshooting Plattsburgh, 24-7. The Bengals also earned five corner kicks, compared to none by the Cardinals. Taylor Carillo (Pine Bush/Pine Bush) needed to make just three saves for her school-record 12th shutout of the season.
Buffalo State will host Geneseo in the SUNYAC final on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Coyer Field. The second-seeded Knights knocked off No. 3 Oneonta, 3-0, in today’s other semifinal.
from BuffaloStateAthletics.com via IFTTT
